Research Guides and Resources
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STYLE GUIDES
- APA (American Psychological Association)
- MLA (Modern Language Association)
- Not sure which style you should use? Try Research and Documentation Online, by Diane Hacker. This lists multiple styles and the subject areas that use them; includes sample papers.
- Citation Machine, is a tool that can help you format your citations based on MLA (6th or 7th Eds.), APA, Turabian, or Chicago style guides. Be sure to compare your results with the appropriate manual for accuracy.
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OTHER RESOURCES AND GENERAL INFORMATION
- Writing
- Copyright
- Research & Study
- Library Services & Resources
STYLE GUIDES
APA (American Psychological Association)
PRINTABLE GUIDES & HANDOUTS:
- APA Documentation and Style (PDF)
- APA Style-Quick Reference (PDF)
BOOKS AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY:
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition, 2001. Call number: BF 76.7 .P83 2001
- Writing with Style: APA Style Made Easy, 2nd Edition, 2002.
Call number: BF 76.8 .S98 2002 - The World's Easiest Guide to using the APA, 3rd edition, 2002.
Call number: BF 76.7 .A52 2002 - A Guide to MLA Documentation: with an Appendix on APA Style.
Call number: PN 147 .T75 2004. We have several copies of this title.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
- APA Style - Frequently Asked Questions offers some examples adn answers questions that you may have about APA. Refers to the 6th Edition.
- The Owl at Purdue : APA Formatting and Style Guide. Based on the 5th Edition. Includes a lot of other resources, too.
- The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin-Madision: APA Documentation, 5th Edition.
- Psychology With Style, Univ. of Wisconsin. For the 5th Edition. This site includes a sample paper.
- APA Research Style Crib Sheet. A summary of rules. Includes illustrations of page layouts. Based on the 5th Edition.
MLA (Modern Language Association)
PRINTABLE GUIDES & HANDOUTS:
- MLA Style - Quick Reference, (PDF), based on the 6th Edition, 2003, with detailed citation examples.
- MLA Style - Reference Guide, (PDF), based on the 7th Edition, 2009, with detailed citation examples.
BOOKS AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY:
- MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th edition. The official print manual from the MLA.
Call number: LB 2369 .G53 2009. We have several copies available. - MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th edition. The official print manual from the MLA.
Call number: LB 2369 .G53 2003. We have several copies, including one large -print edition. - A Guide to MLA Documentation: with an Appendix on APA Style.
Call number: PN 147 .T75 2004. We have several copies of this title.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
- The Owl at Purdue: MLA 2009 Formatting and Style Guide. Includes a lot of other resources, too.
- The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin-Madision: MLA Documentation. Help with creating citations and works cited pages. This source still refers to the 6th Ed.
- Citing Sources from Duke University Libraries.
OTHER RESOURCES AND GENERAL INFORMATION
Writing
PRINTABLE GUIDES & HANDOUTS:
- 8 Tips For Effective Sentences (PDF)
- 12 Common Problems--An Editing Checklist (PDF)
- Generating Ideas & Topics for Writing (PDF)
- Writing Paragraphs (PDF)
- How to Write a Summary (PDF)
- Writing a Thesis Statement (PDF)
- Integrating Sources Into Your Research Paper (PDF)
- Writing an Annotated Bibliography (PDF)
E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM NETLIBRARY:
- Academic Writing and Publishing: A Practical Guide, 2008, by James Hartley.
- Writing an Assignment: How to Improve Your Research and Presentation Skills , 1997, by Pauline Smith.
- Writing Essays: A Guide for Students in English and the Humanities, 2000, by Richard M. Turley.
BOOKS AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY:
- Handbook for Writers, 8th edition.
Call number: PE 1408 .T696 2007. - How to Write Research Papers, 2nd edition.
Call number: LB 2369 .S67 1998. - A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th edition.
Call number: LB 2369 .T8 1996. This is a Reference Book and must be used in the Library. - Real Writing with Readings: Paragraphs and Essays for College, Work, and Everyday Life, 3rd edition.
Call number: PE 1439 .A55 2004. - Research: The Student's guide to Writing Research Papers, 3rd edition.
Call number: LB 2369 .V43 2001. - Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide, 9th edition.
Call number: LB 2369 .L4 1999.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
- The Writing Center: University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Writer's Handbook.
- Research and Documentation Online, by Diane Hacker. Not sure which style you should use? This lists multiple styles and the subject areas that use them; includes sample papers.
Research & Study
Includes topics like Note-Taking, Research Strategies, Study Skills, and Test-Taking Strategies.
PRINTABLE GUIDES & HANDOUTS:
- 24-Hour Rule (PDF), or "How to Save Hundreds of Study Hours!"
- Content-Based Reading Strategies (PDF)
- Cornell Note-Taking System (PDF)
- Curve of Forgetting (PDF) More on the 24-Hour Rule
- Effective Note-Taking (PDF)
- Evaluation of Time-Use (PDF)
- Graphic Organizers (PDF)
- Guide to the Research Process (PDF)
- How to Take Essay Exams (PDF)
- Internet Searching Guide (PDF)
- Learning Styles Assessment (PDF) Which style is yours?
- Managing Your Courses (PDF)
- Study Skills Checklist (PDF) Use this to see where your strengths and weaknesses lie.
- Study Skills Tips (PDF)
- Studying With Note Cards (PDF)
- Ten Principles of Memory PDF)
- Top Ten Misconceptions About College (PDF)
- Weekly Schedule planner (PDF)
E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM NETLIBRARY:
- Getting Straight 'A's: A Student's Guide to Success, Routledge Study Guides, 2006, by Richard Palmer.
- Practical Research Methods: A User-friendly Guide to Mastering Research Techniques and Projects, 2002, by Catherine Dawson.
- How to Study, 5th Edition, 2000, by Ronald Fry.
- The Secrets of Getting Better Grades: Work Smarter, Not Harder, 2002, by Brian Marshall.
- Test Taking Strategies and Study Skills for the Utterly Confused, 2003, by Laurie Rozakis. Also available in print; see below.
BOOKS AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY:
- The Bedford Guide to the Research Process, 3rd edition.
Call number: LB 2369 .J56 1997. An easy-to-use guide with an outline of the research process and advice on using a wide range of resource materials. - Bookmarks: a Guide to Research and Writing.
Call number: LB 2369 .R88 2000. This well-organized and user-friendly guide incorporates a tabbed divider, making it easy to find help for specific research needs. While its "Web Guide," a list of "useful URLs," may be dated, its advice is sound and it includes several style guides and sample papers. - Handbook for College Research, edition.
Call number: LB 2369 .P425 1997. - How to Study and Other Skills for Success in College, 5th edition.
Call number: LB 2395 .M595 2003. - Integrating College Study Skills: Reasoning in Reading, Listening, and Writing, 6th edition.
Call number: LB 2395 .S597 2002. - Keys to College Success: Reading and Study Improvement, 4th edition.
Call number: LB 2395 .L447 1998. - The Research Paper and the World Wide Web, 2nd edition.
Call number: LB 2369 .R585 2000; discusses evaluation of print and electronic resources. - Striving for Excellence in College: Tips for Active Learning, 2nd edition.
Call number: LB 2395 .B77 2001. - Ten Steps to Advancing College Reading Skills, 3rd edition.
Call number: LB 2395.3 .L345 1999. - Test-Taking Strategies & Study Skills for the Utterly Confused.
Call number: LB 3051 .R693 2003.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
- Note-Taking Skills, from North Central College in Naperville, Ill.
- Note Taking and In-Class Skills, from Virginia Tech, Cook Counseling Center.
- CORE: Comprehensive Online Research Education. From Purdue Libraries, this tutorial guides users through the research process. While some of the information and links presented are specific to Purdue Libraries, the general information is excellent!
- The Seven Steps of the Research Process. A guide created by the Olin & Uris Libraries of Cornell University.
- Smart Research Strategies, from Ohio State University Libraries' net.Tutor.
- OSU Libraries Research Tutorial from Oregon State University.
Library Services & Resources
PRINTABLE GUIDES & HANDOUTS:
- RPCC Library Services User Guide (PDF)
- Electronic Resource Access Guide (PDF)
- Library of Congress Classification User Guide (PDF)
ONLINE RESOURCES:
STATE & REGIONAL LIBRARIES
- Louisiana Academic Libraries
- LOUISiana Digital Library
- LOUISiana Union Catalog
- State Library of Louisiana
LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES
This list attempts to reflect the geographic make-up of our student body population.