World in the Twentieth Century: Cold War: Encyclopedias

Why use encyclopedias?

After choosing a topic, you may need to locate introductory sources that give basic background information about the subject. Finding background information at the beginning of your research is especially important if you are unfamiliar with the subject area, or not sure from what angle to approach your topic. Some of the information that a background search can provide includes:

• Broad overview of the subject
• Definitions of the topic
• Introduction to key issues
• Major dates and events