Reference resources, such as dictionaries and encyclopaedias, help you to define terms and find background information on a topic.
The University Library has a good collection of both electronic and print dictionaries and encyclopaedias.
Please note that references to electronic versions of encyclopedias and dictionaries should be incorporated into the text of the essay or assignment and not included in the reference list - in accordance with the Chicago Referencing Guide, "Article from an electronic encyclopaedia/dictionary".
These examples will assist you in how to define terms and find background information for your unit case studies: Crown-of-thorns Starfish and Leadbeaters Possum.
Clarify the meaning of terms associated with your case studies using relevant print or electronic dictionaries and encyclopaedias.
There are various ways of finding subject specific dictionaries or encyclopaedias. Two examples are listed here:
Find a full list of biology dictionaries (print and electronic) that the Library holds using Library Search:
Find a full list of biology encyclopaedia (print and electronic) that the Library holds using Library Search:
This is a step by step guide on how to use one of the electronic encyclopaedias subscribed to by the University Library – the "Encyclopedia of Life Sciences".
Note: Each dictionary and encyclopaedia has its own interface, which may vary from what you see here.
To test your knowledge of the library resources discussed in Exercise 1 Reference Resources, please go to Quiz 1 - Reference Resources on the Quizzes page.