Tips
Encyclopedias are great for:
- choosing a topic
- quick self-education
- perspective on a topic
- variant spellings, vocabulary, terminology
- bibliography
Cambridge Histories Online
Excellent resource. Full text. Chapters as pdfs. Extremely high quality essays with rich footnotes and bibliography.
OED
English Language and its history
Oxford English Dictionary (OED) The dictionary that is scholar's preferred source; it goes far beyond definitions.
Superior to Wikipedia on most topics & disciplines:
Specialized Encyclopedias
- The Palgrave Handbook of Climate HistoryPublication Date: 2017Bringing together dozens of international specialists from the sciences and humanities, this volume describes the methods, sources, and major findings of historical climate reconstruction and impact research. Its chapters take the reader through each key source of past climate and weather information and each technique of analysis; through each historical period and region of the world; through the major topics of climate and history and core case studies; and finally through the history of climate ideas and science. Using clear, non-technical language,
- Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental LawPublication Date: 2016Multi-volume work, several of which focus on climate law. Each entry includes a mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion with an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading.
- Encyclopedia of Climate and WeatherPublication Date: 2011
- The Oxford encyclopedia of climate change communicationPublication Date: 2018Offers a scholarly examination of the effects of climate change communication on public opinion and policy decisions; journalistic coverage and media portrayals of climate change; communication strategies and campaigns; and the implications of effective communication, including those of outreach and advocacy efforts, as well as reviews climate change communication research methods and approaches.
- Encyclopedia of global warming & climate changePublication Date: 2012