research sites
Websites to Help You Conduct Research and Cite Your Sources
Here are the websites that I suggest to students for assistance with their research projects and use of MLA Documentation.
- SCCC Library > SCCC students should begin their research at the SCCC Library website, from which they can access online databases such as EBSCO, InfoTrac, Expanded Academic, and others that provide thousands of full-text magazine, newspaper, and journal articles--as well as numerous other resources.
- SuffolkWeb > A cooperative project of Suffolk County's public libraries, this site provides links to individual local library websites and lets you search the SuffolkWeb County Catalog to find exactly the book, video, or DVD you're looking for.
- Diana Hacker's Research & Documentation Online > This is the website that I consult when citing sources. For research in most English classes, go directly to the Humanities section for info on finding sources and documenting sources. I love the easy drop-down boxes that show how to do in-text citations as well as format entries in the list of Works Cited!
Of course, you can also the Diana Hacker website for help with research projects in other classes: APA style for the Social Sciences (e.g., Psychology, Sociology), Chicago style for History, and CSE for the Sciences. You should use the specific documentation style requested by your professor in any class.
- Modern Language Association > The professional organization that sets the guidelines for using the MLA system of documentation explains "What is MLA style?". Also check out their list of Frequently Asked Questions about MLA style.
- Wikipedia > The free encyclopedia is somewhat controversial because it can be edited by anyone, but it remains a solid source to begin your research by getting a basic sense of a topic with which you might be unfamiliar. Of course, at the collegiate level, students are generally discouraged from citing encyclopedias; instead, you should find more academically established primary, secondary, and electronic sources.
- Tips for Evaluating Sources > The Diana Hacker website provides an excellent series of questions to ask yourself when consulting various sources.
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