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FYS100 -- Memory and Violence in Latin America -- Fall 2017: Getting Started

Magic Cube, Cube, Puzzle, PlayMagic Cube, Hand, Puzzle, Toys

The Key to Good Research -- Patience is a Virtue!!!

Background Information

When you begin a research project, it is helpful to do some background reading to get some basic information on your topic, e.g., keywords, important names, dates, etc. CredoReference is a fulltext online reference service comprised of over 3 million entries from hundreds of well-regarded reference titles. Content includes dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and subject-specific titles.

Subject-specific reference materials can provide beginning researchers with the following:

  • an overview of a topic and how it fits into the broader picture,
  • the various aspects of a topic to help broaden or narrow the area of research,
  • the vocabulary (a.k.a. keywords) associated with the topic to use at the computer,
  • the names of important people or organizations associated with the topic,
  • a bibliography to lead to other relevant items on the topic, including major studies, books, articles and researchers.

Hint: Look for the word count at the bottom of each entry to find longer articles.

Print Resources -- Just Around the Corner

The Library provides access to some general reference books on the Latin American region that will have individual discussions on your country. And these are right at your fingertips!

South America, Central American and the Caribbean
Ref 918
S7261
2003

Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture
Ref 980.03
E56G2
2008