An almanac is “an annual reference book of useful and interesting facts relating to countries of the world, sports, entertainment, etc.”

An almanac provides data on the rising and setting times of the Sun and Moon, the phases of the Moon, the positions of the planets, schedules of high and low tides, and a register of ecclesiastical festivals and saints’ days.

• Wikipedia almanac-type data.
• Printed almanacs.
• Online almanacs.
• Special-purpose almanacs.
• Astronomical almanacs.
• Astrological almanacs.
• Fictional almanacs.
• Almanac calculators.

An almanac is an annual publication that contains a wealth of information about the forthcoming year. Weather predictions, best dates for planting crops, dates of eclipses, times of tides, and farmers’ planting dates are all pieces of information found in an almanac.

Almanacs can be used a reference sources because the provide information about a wide range of given topics. Almanacs provide statistical and comparative date, as well as visual aids to better present and understand information. An atlas is a collection of statistical data ranging one year.

The general reference collection comprises materials that serve one or more of the following purposes: factual information (e.g., dictionaries, atlases, statistical yearbooks, biographical dictionaries) overview of a topic (e.g., handbooks, encyclopedias)

References should always be accurate, allowing your readers to trace the sources of information you have used. The best way to make sure you reference accurately is to keep a record of all the sources you used when reading and researching for an assignment. Citations also make your writing more persuasive.

There are (3) major citation styles used in academic writing:

• Modern Language Association (MLA)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• Chicago, which supports two styles: Notes and Bibliography. Author-Date.

General Reference Maps Their main purpose is to summarise the landscape to aid discovery of locations. They are usually easy to read and understand. Most of the early mapping of the Earth falls into this group. General Reference maps often enlarge or emphasis some features to aid users.

Why do you need to reference?

• To distinguish your own ideas from those of someone else.
• To cite different points of view.
• To validate what you are writing, by referring to documented evidence.
• To inform readers of the scope and depth of your reading.

If you knowingly use another person’s work without giving them credit, you are committing plagiarism. Plagiarism also extends to ideas and products; taking someone’s original idea or product and passing it off as your own. So the ethics of plagiarism is merely the ethics of stealing.

Why reference?

• helps you to avoid plagiarism by making it clear which ideas are your own and which are someone else’s.
• shows your understanding of the topic.
• gives supporting evidence for your ideas, arguments and opinions.
• allows others to identify the sources you have used.