What is an Encyclopedia?

• A. The top half contains narrative statements or summaries; the bottom half is devoted to case and other citations that support the narrative statements
• B. It is a collection of statutes
• C. It is a textbook-only theoretical work
• D. It is a primary source of law

Answer: (A)

In legal research, an encyclopedia is a secondary reference work that presents concise statements of law along with the authorities that back them. The idea behind the layout described is that the main text gives a narrative overview of the rule or doctrine, and then the bottom portion lists case citations, statutes, and other sources that support those statements. This structure lets you grasp the principle quickly and then verify or drill down by consulting the cited authorities. It’s different from statutes or codes, which are primary sources that enact the law, and from textbooks, which can be more theory-driven. So the described format—narrative statements on top with supporting citations below—captures how a legal encyclopedia is designed to function.