Reference BooksResearch Materials

What is a Reference Book?

• Definition of a Reference Book:– a book containing useful facts or specially

organized information, as an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, yearbook, etc.

reference book. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reference book

Examples of Reference Books:

• Encyclopedia

• Dictionary/thesaurus

• Atlas

• Almanac

What is an Encyclopedia?

• A comprehensive reference work containing articles on a wide range of subjects or on numerous aspects of a particular field, usually arranged alphabetically.

encyclopedia. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from Dictionary.com website:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/encyclopedia

What is a Dictionary?

• A reference book containing an alphabetical list of words, with information given for each word, usually including meaning and pronunciation.

dictionary. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from Dictionary.com website:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dictionary

What is a Thesaurus?

• A book of synonyms, often including related and contrasting words and antonyms.

thesaurus. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from Dictionary.com website:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thesaurus

What is an Atlas?

• A book or bound collection of maps.

atlas. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from Dictionary.com website:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/atlas

What is an Almanac?

• an annual publication containing a calendar for the coming year, the times of such events as anniversaries, sunrises and sunsets, phases of the moon and tides.

• a publication containing future positions of celestial objects, star magnitudes, and culmination dates of constellations.

• an annual reference book of useful and interesting facts relating to countries of the world, sports and entertainment.

almanac. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/almanac

Group Activity

• Scavenger Hunt:– Use one of the four types of resources to

locate information requested on the worksheet

– Note which resource you used to locate the information (15 mins)

– One person from each group will be the spokesman to explain why they chose that resource to locate the information.