Evaluating the material you find to see which is the most useful material for the assignment. Beginning with sources of general information and moving to those of a more specific nature, as you focus more carefully on your specific topic. Read Read an encyclopedia or dictionary article to get a general overview of your topic. An encyclopedia article can provide you with a general description of your subject, so that you can have a basic understanding of what you're trying to research. The articles in encyclopedias are usually written by a board of scholars who contribute articles.
Encyclopedias differ in their strengths and usefulness.
For instance Encyclopedia Americana specializes in North American history and biography. Encyclopaedia Britannica is written on an adult level and is heavy reading with a strong British influence. Collier's Encyclopedia specializes in articles on the humanities and social sciences. The library's reference collection contains specialized encyclopedias as well as general ones. For example, there are encyclopedias of the bible, church history, theology, worship, Christian education, and music, among others.