Research and Study Help
The resources listed below can help with research, information evaluation, writing papers, citing and documenting sources, and study and test-taking skills. Off-campus access to RPCC Library resources will require login; see How to Access RPCC Library Resources for help as needed.
Go to:
- Conducting Research and Evaluating Information
- Writing Help
- Citation and Style Guides
- Study and Test-Taking Skills
Conducting Research and Evaluating Information
Suggested Ebooks
- Evaluating Online Information and Sources, 2014
- Expert Internet Searching, 2017
- The Oxford Guide to Library Research, 4th ed., 2015
- Web of Deceit : Misinformation and Manipulation in the Age of Social Media, 2012
Online Resources
The following resources can guide students in the research process. Some may even include citation and documentation guides or generators, or plagiarism checkers! Note that some sites may include ads and/or offer premium services.
Suggested Books
The following books may be found in the Library:
- MLA Handbook, 9th edition. Call number: LB2369 .M52 2021
- Research Strategies: Finding Your Way through the Information Fog, 4th edition. Call number: Z 710 .B23 2011.
Writing Help
Suggested Ebooks
- McGraw-Hill's Concise Guide to Writing Research Papers, 2010
- A Student's Writing Guide : How to Plan and Write Successful Essays, 2009
- Shortcuts for the Student Writer, 2005
Online Resources
- Strategies for Essay Writing, Harvard College Writing Center
- UW-Madison Writer’s Handbook
- How to Write a Research paper - Scribbr
Suggested Books
The following books may be found in the Library:
- Common Errors in English Usage, 2nd edition. Call number: PE 1464 .B75 2009
- Easy Writing Skills Step-by-step. Call number: PE 1408 .L66 2012
- Handbook for Writers, 8th edition. Call number: PE 1408 .T696 2007.
- McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Misspelled and Easily Confused Words. Call number: P 2817 .M38 2006 REF
- Rules for Writers, 7th edition. Call number: PE 1408 .H277 2012.
Citation and Style Guides: APA, MLA, and more!
Try these resources to develop your references and works cited lists. Some offer forms to create citations. Be sure to compare your results from these sources with the appropriate manual for accuracy.
MLA: Modern Language Association
MLA published the 9th edition of its Handbook in 2021. Copies of the manual and easy guides are available in the library.
- MLA Style Center
- MLA Handbook, 9th edition. Call number: LB2369 .M52 2021
- MLA Documentation Guide (UW-Madison The Writing Center)
- Purdue OWL: MLA Style (9th edition)
APA: American Psychological Association
The APA is in the 7th edition of its Publication Manual (7th, 2020). Copies of the manual and easy guides are available in the library.
- APA Style from the American Psychological Association
- APA Guidelines - 7th Edition : A QuickStudy Digital Reference Guide
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition, 2020.
- Purdue OWL: APA Style (7th edition)
Chicago Manual of Style
The 18th edition was published in 2024; many online guides and citation tools may not be updated to reflect the latest edition.
- OWL: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Chicago Manual of Style. Based on the 17th edition. Includes a lot of other resources, too.
- UW-Madison Writer’s Handbook: Chicago/Turabian Documentation from The Writing Center @ The University of Wisconsin – Madison; based on the 17th Edition
Online Citation Tools
- Citation Machine - Resources and Guides, is a tool that can help you format your citations based on MLA (9th editions), APA, or Chicago style guides.
- EasyBib, offers citation generation for MLA and APA.
- KnightCite Citation Service, from The Hekman Library at Calvin College, can build citations for MLA 9th ed., APA 7th ed., and Chicago 17th ed.
Study and Test-Taking Skills
Suggested Ebooks
- The New Science of Learning : How to Learn in Harmony With Your Brain
- How to Take Better Notes from College Info Geek
- Studying and Test Taking
- Study Skills Strategies : Get the Most From Every Minute of Learning
- Teach Yourself How to Learn : Strategies You Can Use to Ace Any Course at Any Level
Online Resources
- LearningExpress PrepSTEP (RPCC Library resource)
- Homework Louisiana
- Study Skills for Students from Education Corner
- 10 Steps To Ace Your Next Test (Princeton Review)
- Test Taking Strategies from Education Corner
Suggested Books
- How to Study and Other Skills for Success in College, 5th edition. Call number: LB 2395 .M595 2003
- Striving for Excellence in College: Tips for Active Learning, 2nd edition. Call number: LB 2395 .B77 2001
- Test-taking Strategies Call number: LB 3060.57 .K36 2003