Group Assignment 1 Group:___________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Brandon Alva English 2010 November 25, 2013

Encyclopedia Rubric

Encyclopedias primary purposes are to provide reference material for anyone seeking clarity or objective information on a wide array of topics. Like dictionaries, encyclopedias usually include a definition of the subject, but then take it a step further by providing a wider scope of relevant facts that pertain to the entry item. Unlike dictionaries, encyclopedias will feature proper people or places, instead of just defining words encompassed by a language. Most encyclopedias tend to avoid heavy jargon, and instead gravitate towards more generalized terminology. This would suggest that the target audience of encyclopedias would lean more towards the lay person rather than the expert. Subject matter cited by encyclopedias is very broad and can include anything that has and, over time, retains merit to an audience of significant size. Some larger subgroups of the aforementioned subject matter include: Biology, zoology, botany, the humanities, history, literature, geography, geology, and popular culture.

Group Assignment 2 While the format tends to vary between encyclopedias, and even different entries within the same encyclopedia, there are some elements that they hold in common. 1. Subject Title (5 Points) This brief heading is listed first to enable the researcher to locate the information they seek. It is normally given in bold print. These often include amendments such as genus and species if the subject falls within the animal kingdom. If the subject is human, it will include birth and (if applicable) death dates. Synonyms and reference entries may also be listed at this point. Images, which are becoming more prevalent with the advent of internet based encyclopedias, will often be posted just below the title. 2. Introduction (10 Points) Most entries, no matter the subject, will begin the body of article by providing a definition of its chosen topic. It also serves as a summary of the information that will follow. (Note: At this point the format will diverge depending on whether the subject falls more into the humanities or the sciences.) 3. Humans and Culture (10 Points) These entries tend, by nature of the subject, to be more focused. If the subject is a human, a relatively concise biography is given that highlights the touchstones of their life which demonstrate why the person is of interest and what they have contributed. Important dates relative to theses benchmarks will sometimes be given.

Group Assignment 3 If it is a matter of human culture or a human creation, a historical evolution of the subject will often be provided. Important dates will accompany these changes as well, but they tend to be of wider ranges as the changes that have occurred take place over extended periods of time. The chronology of the subject typically concludes with its current incarnation, citing its relevance to modern humanity. 4. The Sciences (10 Points) These topics are, for the most part, creations of nature (i.e. plants, animals, or minerals) that have been catalogued by humans. The body of the article will list features or properties inherent to the subject. The broader the topic is, the more generalized the information will be and, inversely, narrower themes will present more specific data. Specific examples of the entry are always listed no matter how wide or narrow the focus is. Interestingly, these entries often dont include a conclusion or summary statement at the end. Though the aforementioned guidelines may seem a bit sweeping and inexact, but it must be taken into account that an encyclopedia entry can spotlight almost anything of human interest no matter how great or small. Variances between the numerous online and hardcopy encyclopedias only serve to widen the degree of difference. Ultimately, what matters is that the information provided for reference to the would-be researcher is factual, relevant, and up to date.