Reference resources can be used for background information when you're beginning your research. Reference sources include encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, atlases and almanacs.
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Covering a range of subjects including Art, Science, History, Geography and more, this volume features over 28,000 articles. It serves as a useful tool for the classroom, the home or the office.
The Columbia Encyclopedia
Provides authoritative factual information about our world in its many guises physical, historical, geographical, political, scientific, religious, and cultural.
The American Heritage Roget's Thesaurus
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus offers an intelligent and sensible guide to synonym selection. Organized in an easy-to-use A-Z format, it provides a wide range of synonyms, ranging from mainstream vocabulary to the colorful alternatives that make English such a rich and versatile language. Thousands of slang, informal, and regional words broaden the coverage even further, always clearly labeled to ensure that the writer chooses the right word for the right context. nbsp; Each synonym list focuses on a clear definition that quickly orients the user to the relevant meaning. To increase the number of synonyms available to the reader, words with related meanings show cross-references to one another. As additional support, hundreds of Core Synonym Paragraphs explain the different nuances in meaning of some of the most basic and important synonyms in English. Each paragraph includes a carefully written example sentence for every synonym discussed or a pertinent quotation from a well-known author. No other thesaurus on the market offers as much help in distinguishing shades of meaning and illustrating appropriate usage.
