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Reference MaterialsInvaluable Print Sources for High School

Students by Teresa Foster

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Smooth hard cover volumes

Various sizes with uniform height of 26 cm-all portable

Clear font (12) Two columns each

page Clear, short

paragraphs

Colored illustrations with captions

Illustrations arranged clearly with text.

Medium stock paper/Glossy

 

World Book EncyclopediaFormat

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Volume A- contains definitive Introduction

with how-to -use explanation

21 volumes A-Z with alphabetical word-for-word entries

Many entries include additional information

-related articles listed -bibliographic

information-cross- references

Index -165,000 access points

Alphabetical with specific vol.

and pg. number Cross-references

Student guide to research section

Glossary

Selected references

Information on Dewey and LC classification systems

World Book EncyclopediaArrangement

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Timely- Copyright date 2004 “Based on latest research”

(World Book Encyclopedia, 2004 p. 22)

Reference publication dates within 3-5 years for modern issues?

Revised yearly

Publisher – World Book Incorporated /1947

Authoritative- Reviews outstanding Preface indicates scholarly contributions in all fields.

Longer articles written by authoritative sources

Bibliography often given 

World Book EncyclopediaAccuracy

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World Book Encyclopedia

Scope•Broad coverage of world events, people, places, and issues•Articles’’ depth vary according to subject•Related articles and bibliographies provided

Style•Factual tone easy to comprehend•Readability level-very useful for junior high students to adults •Short direct sentences and paragraphs

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Type of Document

• Secondary Source

Usefulness• Excellent authoritative source for background information on a variety of research topics for projects and papers.

• Unbiased facts and to the point• Very clear and understandable for a diverse student

population• Good value for amount of information and access• Good illustrations to support articles

• Exellent links to outside sources• Online version

World Book Encyclopedia

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Large, smooth hardcover book-portable

Entries are constructed in two columns per page

• Well-defined spacing• Divisions are clearly delineated • Clear font (12), colored category backgrounds, and use of italics and bold

Small colored illustrations (maps of countries) connected to each articles

Medium stock paper/dull finish

The World Factbook (2007)Format

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Preface

◦ Brief history of Factbook and sources

◦ Timeline of changes

◦ Logical table of contents

Extensive Notes and Definitions ◦ Very clear

explanation/example of how to use

Main entries in alphabetical order ◦ Divided by categories,

fields and subfields

Appendixes – some cross-references for geographic names and

Reference maps of major regions

The World Factbook (2007)Arrangement

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• Created as an annual summary and update of basic intelligence to the National Intelligence Survey Information in 1962. Now, a separate annual program• Preface states information provided by the National Science Foundation, Dept. of Defense, Department of Commerce, Dept. of Labor, CIA, and many other government entities.

• Information is developed and published by CIA

• Fairly timely -published in 2007.

The World Factbook (2007)Accuracy

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Information about every country in the world

Covers very brief background of country

Gives various degrees of information about each country: type of government, population, economy, geography, communication, military, and transnational issues in statistic form.

 

The World Factbook (2007) Scope

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Style

• Dry, factual approach utilizing lists in main body

• Younger students could utilize basic facts found in lists.

• Notes and definitions intended for high school students through adults.

• Few illustrations, but countries and individual information divided clearly.

Type of Document

•Secondary Source

The World Factbook (2007

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Usefulness

The World Factbook (2007)

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Large, hardcover book/plastic protective cover Information written in two columns-closely

spaced Font (10) bold used for entries Variety of fonts/sizes used to define word

information Paper thin/dull Over 900 black and white illustrations Useful illustrations with text

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.)

Format

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Entries in body in alphabetical order by letter• Explanatory chart and notes

of dictionary word elements• Brief English language history • Abbreviations and

Pronunciations charts

Clear table of contents

Logical preface

Cross-references for synonyms, inflections, cognates, and directional

Brief dictionaries of foreign words/phrases, biographical and geographical

Handbook of style

Alphabetical by letter index

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.)

Arrangement

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Timely edition-published in 2008

Merriam –Webster’s published for 111 years

Contains 22,000 new words

Authoritative- Citations collected from Webster’s Third New International Dictionary and 1963

Collegiate with more than a million citations gathered since their publication

Trained staff of Merriam Co. collaborated for this reference work

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.)

Accuracy

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Scope

•Very broad•Over 165,000 entries with more than 191,000 definitions •More than 22,000 new words•Approximately 27, 000 word usage examples

Style

• Factual• Easy to follow

charts for explanations

• Lists of definitions with elements clearly marked

• Easy readability for middle/high school level to adult

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.)

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Type of Document

Secondary source

Usefulness•Easy to use•Great value at 23.95.•Clear explanations/guidelines on how to use•Extremely broad number of definitions•Great cross-references features•Extra dictionaries helpful. (Students should learn they are there)•Students can utilize this dictionary in a myriad of ways. Many projects require an efficient use of the dictionary.

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.)

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Jacketed illustrated hard cover Portable Font (12) Clear text Thematic cartography of world countries Beautiful pictures/graphs/charts which

emphasizes article information Hundreds of maps in 3 scales: large, medium,

small Body consists of large maps with small and

medium maps often giving specific details Medium stock paper/glossy

Oxford New Concise World Atlas 2nd Ed.Format

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Clear, comprehensive how-to-use guide

Well-organized Table of Contents

World Statistics

22 articles of planetary information/well orchestrated with pictures and graphs World maps/Continents with

symbol key

Main body reference maps of world utilizing page indicators and layer –colored contours

55,000 alphabetical Index to World Maps

Cross-references

Index of World Countries

Brief country pronunciation key

Oxford New Concise World Atlas 2nd Ed.Arrangement

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Accuracy• Published in 2007 by Oxford University Press, Inc. • Cartography by Philip’s.• Maps updated annually.• New names changes• New maps of 5 U.S. cities• Cartography illustrators and authors credited• Region in the News-changes up-to-date

Oxford New Concise World Atlas 2nd Ed

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Scope  Broad overview of Earth-its countries Balanced coverage of countries 55,000 entries indexed Sections covering planetary news Sections covering world statistics Every region is mapped from the Arctic

Ocean to the Volga Basin

Oxford New Concise World Atlas 2nd Ed

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Style

Large, clear maps Shading and colored contours make maps easy

to read Maps placed in logical sequence Map symbols are clear – utilizes points, circles,

lines, various styles of text Scales of maps and legends are easy to read Articles with illustrations have clear readability

for a general audience.

Oxford New Concise World Atlas 2nd Ed

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Type of Document

Secondary Source

Usefulness• Great cartography-easy to locate information• Clear concise guide and index• Updated annually with accurate and timely data• Background information in articles detailed• All names in English & local region language.• Students will utilize in geography, science, and

government class for a variety of projects.

Oxford New Concise World Atlas 2nd Ed

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Importance of references - Conclusion

Students have diverse academic needs. Many of their study methods require multiple formats. Print reference materials is an important , but often forgotten, way to meet some of their needs. The hands-on look at the information is exactly what they are

looking for to help them find their answers.The sources discussed help students complete assignments in many

disciplines, such as social studies and government. Students can even plan trips in this country and to anywhere around the world with these resources. It is up to us to provide what these students need to succeed. This is just the beginning.

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Lanning, S., & Bryner, J. (2004). Essential reference services for today’s school media specialists. Westport, Connecticut:

Libraries Unlimited.

Oxford new concise world atlas. (2006). (2nd. Ed.) New York: Oxford.

United States Central Intelligence Agency. World factbook. (2008). Washington, D.C.: Central Intelligence Agency.

Woolf, H. , et al. Webster’s new collegiate dictionary. (2005). Springfield, Massachusetts: G.& C. Merriam Company.

World book encyclopedia. (2004, Vols. 1-22). Chicago: World Book , Inc.

References