Useful Research Links
Useful Research Items:
William Strunk, Jr. classic Elements of Style now available on-line Scholars Guide to WWW (1998) by Richard Jensen, Professor Emeritus of History, U of Illinois-Chicago, a very useful general guide by one of the true pioneeers of innovative methodology in history Grammar and Style Notes - Miscellany of grammatical rules and explanations, comments on style, and suggestions on usage. Created by Jack Lynch a Ph.D. candidate in English literature at the University of Pennsylvania. Very useful. On-line Grammars. From Robert Beard at Bucknell University. Many languages including English. On-Line Dictionaries. Links to more than 800 dictionaries in 150 different languages Rhyming Dictionary. Clever. Research It. One Stop Reference Desk. Useful and interesting collection of dictionaries, translators, and search engines. Virtual Reference Deck. A first-class shelf of basic reference sources from Purdue University Libraries. Internet citations: Citing Electronic Information in History Papers by Maurice Crouse, Department of History, The University of Memphis. The definitive work on Electronic Citations. Includes an essential bibliography of additional works and examples, many with additional URLs. Indispensable. Li and Crane's Electronic styles: A Handbook for citing electronic information (1996), by Information Today, Inc. "MLA-Style Citations of Electronic Sources" by Janice R. Walker.
William Strunk, Jr. classic Elements of Style now available on-line
Scholars Guide to WWW (1998) by Richard Jensen, Professor Emeritus of History, U of Illinois-Chicago, a very useful general guide by one of the true pioneeers of innovative methodology in history
Grammar and Style Notes - Miscellany of grammatical rules and explanations, comments on style, and suggestions on usage. Created by Jack Lynch a Ph.D. candidate in English literature at the University of Pennsylvania. Very useful.
On-line Grammars. From Robert Beard at Bucknell University. Many languages including English.
On-Line Dictionaries. Links to more than 800 dictionaries in 150 different languages
Rhyming Dictionary. Clever.
Research It. One Stop Reference Desk. Useful and interesting collection of dictionaries, translators, and search engines.
Virtual Reference Deck. A first-class shelf of basic reference sources from Purdue University Libraries.
Internet citations:
Citing Electronic Information in History Papers by Maurice Crouse, Department of History, The University of Memphis. The definitive work on Electronic Citations. Includes an essential bibliography of additional works and examples, many with additional URLs. Indispensable.
Li and Crane's Electronic styles: A Handbook for citing electronic information (1996), by Information Today, Inc.
"MLA-Style Citations of Electronic Sources" by Janice R. Walker.
Citing Internet Sources. SUNY-Binghamton's excellent guide to Citing Electronic Resources
International Dictionaries:
French-English/English-French Dictionary
German-English Dictionary.
The LOGOS Dictionary Translates words and phrases to numerous languages. European link, slow.
Euro-Dictionary A project underway at the University of Frankfurt in Germany. Translate eight European languages.
Search 250 WWW search services in all areas. Including Arts, Business, Computers, Directories, Education, Employment, Entertainment , Finance, Government, Health , Housing, Legal, News, People, Politics, Reference, Science, Shopping, Sports, Travel, Usenet, Web, etc...
CyberTimes Navigator from the New York Times
WWW Virtual Library from Indiana Univ School of Law. Useful.
Searchable News Archives Worldwide. Incomplete but very useful.
Electronic Newstand. Search 2,000 journals.
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See also Electronic Library.
Back to Research C388.
The first rule of writing is: have something to say. A paper is an argument for a particular thesis. You must therefore become thoroughly familiar with the sources you intend to use. A quick cursory reading of a source will rarely yield enough ideas to develop a good paper: you may have to read the item more than once. It is essential that you keep notes as you read--3 X 5 cards are very useful for maintaining a record of ideas. From your note cards you generate ideas, initially in the form of a tentative thesis and title. It is essential that you have some thesis before you begin. You are now ready to develop a short outline which leads naturally to your first draft. It is impossible to say how many drafts of a paper one should write, but it is almost impossible to write a good paper in one draft. From the moment you begin writing you will find yourself reorganizing your ideas as they begin to take shape in unexpected ways. Never forget that you are trying to persuade the reader that your particular thesis is right. Overall Paper Structure The easiest way to write a paper is to visualize it in three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the end. In a short paper of the kind assigned in this course, your beginning paragraph(s) should clearly outline your argument or thesis. The middle paragraphs--the "body" of the paper--should present a variety of points that you desire to discuss in developing your thesis. When you are satisfied that you have done a good job of presenting YOUR argument, it is time to start your conclusion. Paragraphs: Paragraphs are the blocks with which your paper is built. Probably the closest one can come to defining a paragraph is to say that it is a discussion of a single idea. Paragraphs vary in size depending on the idea under discussion. Like the paper itself, the paragraph is best visualized in terms of a beginning, a middle, and an end. Generally the first sentence of each paragraph will be your topic sentence, stating the "mini" thesis of the paragraph. The last sentence should be the most emphatic and should sew up the argument in the paragraph. As you might suspect, the middle sentences should get you smoothly from the beginning to the end sentence. The opening sentence of the first paragraph of a short paper should provide the bait to attract the reader. It is impossible to provide precise information on the coverage of this first sentence, but any kind of general and interesting comment or anecdote which focuses the readers' attention on the topic will suffice. A number of sentences providing a brief description of the author's objectives, that is the thesis of your paper, usually follows the opening sentence and completes the first paragraph. The middle paragraphs are the "standard" paragraphs which are best thought of as little essays with their own little beginnings and little ends. Ideally, each topic sentence must somehow hook onto the paragraph above it, by utilizing some transitional work, phase or idea. You may simply repeat a word from the sentence that ended the paragraph just above, or you many get from one paragraph to another by using some common stepping stones: but, however, nevertheless, therefore, indeed, of course, etc.. One transitional touch in your paragraph topic sentence is usually enough. As to content, middle paragraphs should initially provide the "meat" of your coverage of the topic of the paper. Be sure to weave your personal thoughts on the topic into these middle paragraphs. The concluding paragraph(s) should sew up your argument. A summary list of topic sentences from your paragraphs can be of great value here. Sentences:
The first rule of writing is: have something to say. A paper is an argument for a particular thesis. You must therefore become thoroughly familiar with the sources you intend to use. A quick cursory reading of a source will rarely yield enough ideas to develop a good paper: you may have to read the item more than once. It is essential that you keep notes as you read--3 X 5 cards are very useful for maintaining a record of ideas.
From your note cards you generate ideas, initially in the form of a tentative thesis and title. It is essential that you have some thesis before you begin. You are now ready to develop a short outline which leads naturally to your first draft. It is impossible to say how many drafts of a paper one should write, but it is almost impossible to write a good paper in one draft. From the moment you begin writing you will find yourself reorganizing your ideas as they begin to take shape in unexpected ways. Never forget that you are trying to persuade the reader that your particular thesis is right.
Overall Paper Structure
The easiest way to write a paper is to visualize it in three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the end. In a short paper of the kind assigned in this course, your beginning paragraph(s) should clearly outline your argument or thesis. The middle paragraphs--the "body" of the paper--should present a variety of points that you desire to discuss in developing your thesis. When you are satisfied that you have done a good job of presenting YOUR argument, it is time to start your conclusion.
Paragraphs:
Paragraphs are the blocks with which your paper is built. Probably the closest one can come to defining a paragraph is to say that it is a discussion of a single idea. Paragraphs vary in size depending on the idea under discussion.
Like the paper itself, the paragraph is best visualized in terms of a beginning, a middle, and an end. Generally the first sentence of each paragraph will be your topic sentence, stating the "mini" thesis of the paragraph. The last sentence should be the most emphatic and should sew up the argument in the paragraph. As you might suspect, the middle sentences should get you smoothly from the beginning to the end sentence.
The opening sentence of the first paragraph of a short paper should provide the bait to attract the reader. It is impossible to provide precise information on the coverage of this first sentence, but any kind of general and interesting comment or anecdote which focuses the readers' attention on the topic will suffice. A number of sentences providing a brief description of the author's objectives, that is the thesis of your paper, usually follows the opening sentence and completes the first paragraph.
The middle paragraphs are the "standard" paragraphs which are best thought of as little essays with their own little beginnings and little ends. Ideally, each topic sentence must somehow hook onto the paragraph above it, by utilizing some transitional work, phase or idea. You may simply repeat a word from the sentence that ended the paragraph just above, or you many get from one paragraph to another by using some common stepping stones: but, however, nevertheless, therefore, indeed, of course, etc.. One transitional touch in your paragraph topic sentence is usually enough. As to content, middle paragraphs should initially provide the "meat" of your coverage of the topic of the paper. Be sure to weave your personal thoughts on the topic into these middle paragraphs.
The concluding paragraph(s) should sew up your argument. A summary list of topic sentences from your paragraphs can be of great value here.
Sentences:
Overall organizational tips: At the conclusion of your first draft go through the following steps:
Overall organizational tips:
At the conclusion of your first draft go through the following steps:
Footnotes/Citations:
You are expected to provide a full footnote to each of your sources of information. All standard American humanities styles are acceptable. The standard source of information on non-electronic footnotes is Kate Turabian's book listed below. For internet Citations, take your pick from Internet citations above.
Bibliography:
Research Paper Writing Tutorial: If you prefer your own step-by-step tutorial try one of the best from the Writing Center, a partner of Purdue University.
. Writing Tutorial Services Library at Indiana University provides the following on-line pamphlets: "Citing Sources in MLA Style" "Citing Sources in APA Style" "How To Write a Thesis Statement" "Paragraphs and Topic Sentences" "Taking an Essay Exam" "Using Outlines" "Writing Book Reviews" "Personal Statements and Application Letters" "Writing Resumes and Cover Letters"
Writing Tutorial Services Library at Indiana University provides the following on-line pamphlets:
"Citing Sources in MLA Style"
"Citing Sources in APA Style"
"How To Write a Thesis Statement"
"Paragraphs and Topic Sentences"
"Taking an Essay Exam"
"Using Outlines"
"Writing Book Reviews"
"Personal Statements and Application Letters"
"Writing Resumes and Cover Letters"
The Writer's Complex at SUNY Empire State College's virtual campus especially the Essay Writing Workshops. Writer's Reference Desk provides a number of very useful reference works WWW Virtual Library: Writers' Resources On The Web BookSpot. Great for those who like to read. Sometimes busy. Worth a visit. LibrarySpot. The Library partner of bookspot. Very useful. BookWire claims to be the most comprehensive book-related resource on the web A Celebration of Women Writers, an exhibit-in-the-making at Carnegie Mellon University Literary Links, via the English Department, University of Alberta Literary Research Tools on the Net, via Computing in the Humanities, University of Pennsylvania Purdue University. On-Line Writing Lab. Researchpaper.com. Claims the Web's largest collection of topics, ideas, and assistance for school related research projects. Very useful especially in guaging what the internet can assist in teaching.
The Writer's Complex at SUNY Empire State College's virtual campus especially the Essay Writing Workshops.
Writer's Reference Desk provides a number of very useful reference works
WWW Virtual Library: Writers' Resources On The Web
BookSpot. Great for those who like to read. Sometimes busy. Worth a visit.
LibrarySpot. The Library partner of bookspot. Very useful.
BookWire claims to be the most comprehensive book-related resource on the web
A Celebration of Women Writers, an exhibit-in-the-making at Carnegie Mellon University
Literary Links, via the English Department, University of Alberta
Literary Research Tools on the Net, via Computing in the Humanities, University of Pennsylvania
Purdue University. On-Line Writing Lab.
Researchpaper.com. Claims the Web's largest collection of topics, ideas, and assistance for school related research projects. Very useful especially in guaging what the internet can assist in teaching.