Finding and Using Reference Sources for Background Information (Ball State University Libraries)

Once you have chosen a topic, it’s a good idea to look at a few reference resources to get some background information. Try doing a little digging to uncover some helpful information that puts your topic into a useful perspective.

Here are some online resources to get you started.

• CQ Researcher
• Credo Reference
• Gale Virtual Reference Library
• Oxford Reference Online

You can also search for reference books in CardCat. You'll find many specialized encyclopedias on a variety of topics.

Also see our reserach guide "Research: Getting Started" for more help.