Concepts

[Usage: Concept is frequently used as a synonym for conception or idea. Traditionally, concept is used for a general abstract idea "The concept of democracy (meaning "the general idea of a democratic state") began with the Greeks.]

American Heritage Dictionary. 2nd College Ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, c1982. 

If you are looking for concepts, you should be looking for broad topics such as:

• angels
• beauty
• citizenship
• civil rights
• democracy
• devil
• dignity
• fate
• friendship
• good
• happiness
• home
• immortality
• love
• leisure
• marriage
• privacy
• religion
• sin
• time

You may want to narrow your topic. For example: angels in literature.

Before starting your research, consult with your instructor about your topic .

Reference Area

Use General Encyclopedias or Specialized Encyclopedias and Dictionaries, such as:

• World Book and Britannica [REF AE5 ]
• Dictionary of the History of Ideas [REF CB5.D52]
• Encyclopedia of Psychology [REF BF31.E52]
• Encyclopedia of Philosophy [REF B41.E5]
• Encyclopedia of Ethics [REF BJ63.E45 ]
• Man, Myth and Magic [REF BF1407.M34]

Computer Catalog

Use the catalog to look for books and other materials.

Look by SUBJECT.

Online Resources

Use the Online Databases for articles in periodicals. Try Academic OneFile. Do a subject search. Notice how the subject is subdivided in subtopics.

Questions? Ask a Librarian

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Last Updated: June 2009

Created and maintained by Sahyly Martinez

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