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ENGL 1213 Composition 2

Research & rhetoric for more advanced expository essays.

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Reference Works

Reference works such as dictionaries and encyclopedias can provide background information. Use these resources when you:

  • Want to quickly learn about a topic.
  • Are having trouble selecting a topic.
  • Don’t know what search terms to use.
  • Need to find facts and figures.

Virtual Reference

Oxford English Dictionary Online
  • Oxford
  • Full-text resource

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language.

Use this widget to search seven collections of reference books.

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Choose Your Databases

Dictionaries

Available in the reference section of the J. W. Martin Library, these books will help you employ language precisely.

Encyclopedias

Reference Databases

These research databases contain full-text reference works.

Their content includes encyclopedias and specialized dictionaries but may also include journal articles and other sources.

General Reference

Legal & Business Information

English & Literature

Health & Psychology

Home & Craft

Schools & Public Libraries