Learn to Write
Open Education Database is a compilation of sites that provides over 150 resources to help anyone write better and and more confidently. Whether you are a student, blogger or professional writer, oedb.org provides techniques that can help improve everything from researching to editing to persuasive writing. The sites are organized by subject and the list is comprehensive enough to find help with almost any area of the writing process. Write on!
Grammar and Style
The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
The English department at Purdue University created this website with free resources, including writing tips, grammar rules, and citation styles. The various guides do a good job of explaining the "rules" and include examples to help you understand. Our webmaster used this site all the time when she was in library school!
Research and Citation Resources from the OWL
Elements of Style, by William Strunk, is a classic reference on the rules of proper writing and composition. Although Elements of Style does not specifically address citation styles like the other sources on this page, it's a helpful tool for developing a good writing style and we didn't want you to miss it. This online version links you to topics from the table of contents. We also have hard copies of the book; see them in our catalog.
Cite Your Sources
Did you know that citation style differs, depending on the subject area (for example, sciences versus humanities), because different fields use different style manuals? Style manuals set forth the "rules" of formatting a paper and citations; the most widely used style manuals are MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE. In general, MLA is used in English and the humanities, APA is used in psychology and the social sciences, Chicago is used in history and some humanities, and CSE is used in biology and other sciences. It's a good idea to ask your instructor which style manual you should use for an assignment.
Enter information about your source and this site automatically structures the citation for you in MLA, APA, or Chicago style. Please note: this site has a pop-up ad at the beginning and you may need to create a subscription account to use the site beyond the free trial. The site also provides quick reference guides, with examples:
Learn to Type
OK, you've done your research and now it's time to start writing your paper. Need to improve your typing skills so your fingers can keep up with your brain? This site provides free online typing courses to sharpen your typing skillz. Hay un curso de mecanografía gratis en español.