Reference sources include dictionaries and encyclopedias. They are useful at the beginning of a project for finding factual information on a topic and brainstorming thesis ideas. They are not typically used as sources in an academic paper, but if you do use information from a reference source, be sure to cite it!

A database is an organized collection of information. Library databases contain newspaper articles, magazine articles, journal articles, eBooks, and more. Academic Search Complete is a great database because it includes information on all different subjects.

The domain of a website can give you useful information about that website. Common domains include:

• .com
• .edu
• .org
• .gov

Only official government organizations can create websites ending in .gov. Only educational institutions can create websites using .edu - but be aware that in many cases, anyone affiliated with a college or university can create their own website using .edu, including students, so be sure the site author is actually an expert in the subject!

To search Google for sites with a specific domain (for instance, to search for only government documents), enter "site:.gov" after your keywords in the search box.

Educational and documentary videos are a great source of information! You can use these databases to stream videos on a variety of topics. Remember to cite any information you find in a video just as you would any other source. For specific information on formatting citations, click here.