2: How to Get Background Information

Look up your keywords in the online subject encyclopedias:

Facts and Encyclopedias

Read articles in these online encyclopedias to set the context for your research. Take note of relevant items in the bibliographies or "for further reading" sections at the end of the encyclopedia articles. These can lead to further information on your topic. Additional background information may be found in lecture notes, textbooks, reserve readings. Develop your search skills and practice often!

Current Issues

To access Oakton Library databases from an off-campus computer, click on the database name and then use your Oakton username and password to login.
Not sure what your Oakton username and password are? Find it here. Questions? Call (847) 635-1644

The following scholarly websites discuss current issues:

• CQ Researcher
  Unbiased reports on current issues may be searched by topic and date. Pros and cons are provided.
• Opposing Viewpoints and Points of View
  Provides viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazine, academic journal, and newspaper articles, primary source documents, statistics, images and podcasts, and links to Websites.
• Government Information
  Links to local, state and federal government sites are found here.

Web sites

The following websites are great for finding background information on a topic:

• AlterNet
  Project of the Independent Media Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening and supporting independent and alternative journalism.
• Britannica.com
  Premier web encyclopedia available for Oakton users.
• Encyclopedias: Open Directory Project
  This site links to encyclopedias on a wide variety of subjects.
• HowStuffWorks.com
  Award-winning web site that provides thousands of articles on how things work "from the inside out."
• infoplease.com
  This website provides an online dictionary, atlas, almanac and internet encyclopedia.
• ipl2
  Searchable subject directory with a wide variety of internet resources created and maintained by librarians and library science students.
• Public Agenda Online
  This is a website created by a nonpartisan, nonprofit public opinion research & citizen education organization based in New York city.
• U.S. Dept. of State
  State Department's Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) engages international audiences on issues of foreign policy, society and values to help create an environment receptive to U.S. national interests.

Encyclopedias

Here are just some titles of subject specific encyclopedias available in the Oakton Library. Ask a reference librarian for additional suggestions.

• Building the world : an encyclopedia of the great engineering projects in history
  Call Number: (DP) REF. T56 .I44 2006; (RHC) RHCREF. T56 .I44 2006
• Encyclopedia of American Literature
  Call Number: (RHC) RHCREF. PS21 .E533 2008
• Encyclopedia of Dress and Fashion
  Call Number: (DP) REF. GT507 .E54 2010
• Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol & Addictive Behavior
  Call Number: (DP) REF. HV5804 .E53 2009
• The Facts on File Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend
  Call Number: (DP) REF. BL303.M45 2009
• The Illinois Encyclopedia
  Call Number: (RHC) RHCREF. F539 .I66 2008
• Magill's Medical Guide
  REF. RC41 .M34 2008
• Mcgraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology
  Call Number: (DP) REF. Q121 .M3 2007; (RHC) RHCREF. Q121 .M3 2007
• The World Book Encyclopedia
  Call Number: (RHC) RHCREF. AE5 .W55 2008
• Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life
  Call Number: (DP) REF. GN333 .W67 2009; (RHC) RHCREF. GN333 .W67 2009

Full text Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles

News articles in a newspaper or general magazine can also give you a starting point for your research. Use an online periodical index such as
Academic Search Complete to locate background information in full text magazine and journal articles.

Tip

Exploit bibliographies! Remember that many of the books and articles you find will have bibliographies or a "works cited" page, too. By routinely checking these sources for additional relevant resources, you can generate a surprisingly large number of books and articles in a relatively short time.

Remember

Finding background information about a topic is an important step of the research process. If you're interested in pursuing a topic which is unfamiliar to you, reading an encyclopedia or general article about the subject can help you to clarify your topic and point out areas for additional research.