Lecture 2:Q &A

a) what is a brief history of the encyclopaedia?
According to the website of wikipedia, "encyclopaedia is the oldest the oldest English-language general encyclopaedia. The Encyclopædia Britannica has been published since 1768, when its first edition began to appear in Edinburgh, Scotland."

b) what are some key features of that encyclopaedia?
- according to wikipedia

"it is first published between 1768 and 1771 in Edinburgh, Scotland. the oldest english-language encyclopaedia still in print. "

It is reaching over 21 volumes.

and it is claimed to use the "continuous revision policy".

The Britannica has also received criticism, especially as its editions become outdated. It is expensive to produce a completely new edition of the Britannica.

Various authorities, ranging from Virginia Woolf to academic professors, criticised the 11th edition Britannica for having bourgeois and old-fashioned opinions on art, literature and social sciences

-according to encyclopaedia britannica

"the first edition is conceived by two printers Andrew Bell and Colin Mac farquhar. "

"the second edition is much more ambitious work in both length and scope, including 10 volumes totaling 8595 pages."

"The third edition was still longer, appearing in parts forming 18 volumes of 14,579 pages (1788–97). It was edited by Macfarquhar until his death in 1793. "

"The fourth edition appeared from 1801 to 1809 and, when completed, was bound in 20 volumes totaling 16,033 pages and dated 1810. "

c)which encyclopaedia was most useful for this research?
Encyclopaedia britannica. It is because it is more accuarate. and it keeps on renew and has a better arrangement and structure than wikipedia.

d) can you trust this encyclopaedia 100%? Why or why not?
No. it is because the knowledge and information may be not updated depsite the newly invented technologies. and no things and books can be 100% correct.

references:
website of wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclopaedia
http://www.britannica.com/