Find Background Information - UGS 303: Dante's Hell and its Afterlife - Raffa - LibGuides at University of Texas at Austin

What is Background Information?

Background information provides a general overview of a research topic, including important terms and concepts, relevant names of people or places, and dates of specific events. Finding background information can help you locate keywords for searching databases and identify more specific areas of your topic that you may want to research further.

Where to Search

Gale Virtual Reference Library
Most current edition. Unlimited users. Usage Rights

Updated regularly. A database of encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources. Fully searchable across all files. A list of sources included in our subscription is available.
For more information on ebooks see the Ebook Guide
Oxford Classical Dictionary
4th edition (2012). Unlimited users. Usage Rights

An authoritative reference to all aspects of the ancient world. Offers, across the whole range of the study of the ancient world, both information presented in a form accessible to non-specialists and factual material and bibliographies detailed and specific enough for specialist. Covers literature, art, philosophy, law, biography, mythology, science, geography, daily life, and broad cultural and historical trends.

Listed below are some sources we think might be of use. Some are on reserve for 2-hour use at PCL, so you can ask for them at the Research Help and Check Out Desk.

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Background Research Tips

You can search for background information on broad or more general topics to help you begin a research project. For example, you can start your class project by finding general background information on the global water crisis before diving into your more specific assigned topic.
Remember to make use of bibliographies! You can often come across useful sources when conducting background research and looking at the references for an encyclopedia article for instance.