Research Guides

Style Guides

For more on citing sources see How to Cite

• MLA Handout (PDF File) or (Word) – NEWLY updated – 8th Edition
• MLA Handout –  previous version
• APA Handout –  7th edition (Word)
• Chicago Handout (PDF File)
• ASA Guide

Top Research Guides

• L Building Map (1st and 2nd floor)
• Library Basics 2014 (Word File)
• Evaluation of Sources (PDF File)
• Scholarly vs. Popular Magazines (PDF File)
• The Research Process : a flow chart (PDF File)
• Plagiarism Brochure (PDF File)
• Developing a Research Topic and Identifying keywords (PowerPoint File)
• Library Vocabulary (PDF)

Subject Guides

• Differing Viewpoints (Word)
• Immigration (PDF)
• Book Reviews – Hist7B (PowerPoint)
• U.S. Constitution Research Guide (PDF)
• Banned Books – Why?
• Banned Books Handout
• Career Information Sources (PDF)
• Current Events (PDF)
• Arts and Humanities (PDF)
• Finding Book Reviews and Author Biographies (PDF)
• Mythology (PDF)
• LGBTQ Studies (PDF)
• U.S. History Studies (PDF)
• Researching Historical Events (PDF)

• Searchpath

Searching the Library Databases

• Article Database Tutorials (HTML)

Developing a Thesis Statement or Research Question

• Information Literacy Puzzle
• The Research Process – Seattle Central College
• Picking Your Topic IS Research!  – North Carolina State University (Flash)
• Identifying a Topic – University of Wyoming (HTML)
• Creating a Good Thesis Statement – East Tennessee State University (Video)
• Develop a Research Topic that Works  – University of Cincinnati (Video)
• Research is a Conversation — University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Flash)
• It’s All About the Questions — Oklahoma State University (Video)

Primary & Secondary Research Documents

• Informat
• Information Cycle – University of Tennessee (Video)
• Elements of a Research Article — University of Texas at San Antonio (Flash)
• Empirical Research: How to Recognize and Locate — Cal State Fullerton (HTML)
• Research Glossary — Research Connections (HTML

Scholarly & Popular Periodicals

• Elements of a Research Article — University of Texas at San Antonio  (Mixed Media)
• Peer Review — North Carolina State University (Flash)
• Scholarship Is Like a Conversation — New Literacies Alliance (Mixed Media)
• Scholarly Articles — SUNY, Albany (Video)

• Evaluating Websites — Oklahoma City Community College (Video)
• Credible Websites? — Vermont Technical College (Video)
• Credible Sources Count – Acadia University (Flash)
• Evaluating Websites – CSU, Fullerton  (Video)
• What is a Library Database? — Enoch Pratt Free Library (HTML)
• Fact and Opinion — Pearson Education (PowerPoint)
• Evaluating Health Information – National Library of Medicine (HTML)
• Who Do You Trust and Why? — Oklahoma State University (Video)
• Evaluation: Fact or Fiction? — QUT library (Video)
• How to Spot Fake News – FactCheck.org (Video)
• Safiya Noble | Challenging the Algorithms of Oppression (Video)
• Critical Reading versus Critical Thinking — Films on Demand (Video, login required)

Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism

• You Quote It, You Note It! – Westchester Community College  (Flash)
• Warning! Plagiarism – Stephen F. Austin State University (Video)
• Plagiarism: How to Avoid It – Bainbridge State College (Video)
• Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction – North Carolina State University (Video)
• Understanding Plagiarism – Eastern Michigan University (Flash)

MLA Eighth Edition

• • MLA Format 8th Edition — EasyBib (HTML)
  • Purdue Online Writing Lab (HTML)
  • MLA Style Center (HTML)
  • What’s New in the Eighth Edition (HTML)
  • MLA 8th Edition Citation Guide – Valencia College (HTML)
  • MLA Style Guide, 8th Edition – Indian River State College (HTML)

APA

• • • APA Style Help ( American Psychological Association)
    • APA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue Online Writing Lab)
    • APA Sample Paper (Purdue Online Writing Lab)

Call Numbers

• • • How to Read a Call Number – University of Arkansas (Video)

Information Literacy

• • • Introduction to College Research – OER Textbook (scroll down for links to content)
    • Los Rios Libraries Information Literacy Tutorials – Canvas modules in the Commons

Library Archive

• • • The Reporter –  College of Alameda Newspaper – Archive
    • Fiset Guitar Collection – Finding Aid