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FYSP 080: Pandemic: Background Information

A course-specific guide for FYSP 080 on relevant library resources and search strategies.

Background Information Databases

Search across large collections of scholarly encyclopedias and dictionaries at once. Entries can be helpful for general understanding, keywords, and mining the reference sections.

Selected Encyclopedias

What is a background source?

Background sources are written for a general audience and are intended to give an overview of a topic, fill gaps in the reader’s knowledge, and provide context for deeper understanding. Examples include Wikipedia, introductory textbooks, and reference works such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks. 

They can be a useful place to start your research and assist in selecting a topic for a research project, locating basic information and key facts, defining important words and concepts, and getting suggestions for additional sources to consult. 

Typical characteristics of background sources:

  • intended to be informative
  • provide context, background, or summary information
  • present shared information and established facts; information is uncontested  
  • offer suggestions for additional sources of information on the topic