Help with Research

For assistance in choosing topics and organizing research papers try some of these Web sites.
Also, contact a librarian for assistance and suggestions. Stop by, email or call us at 804-862-6227.

Adobe^® reader is required to view many of the documents on this web site. You can download a free copy.

Paper Topics | RBC Library Guides to Research (handouts)| Research Paper: Tips & Techniques | APA & MLA Citations | Plagiarism | Evaluating Web Sites

Selecting a Paper Topic:

• Argumentative Essay Topics — This site provides a list of topics, web sites, and questions for further study.
• Debatabase: The Online Debate Topic Database — This site includes a list of controversial topics along with pros & cons for each topic.
• Hot Paper Topics — This site called "Best Information on the Net" is from O'Keefe Library at St. Ambrose University. It is very helpful for choosing a topic and also for locating evaluated Web sites on many topics. Particularly useful for current events.
• Hot Paper Topics — This site from the Northwest Missouri State Library provides a list of topics and rudimentary thesis statements.
• "Hot" Religious Topics — This site provides a list of current religious and moral controversies.
• Hot Topics — This site from the University of Louisville Libraries provides an extensive list of paper topics and accompanying web links.
• Idea Generator — This site is from Old Dominion University Libraries. It is strictly a site to help you generate topic ideas. It does not provide Web links. Topics are arranged by broad category. A great way to brain storm topics.
• Possible Research Topics and Questions — This list was compiled by RBC student Christine Woodman in Ms. Duckworth's English 200 class.
• Sample Research Topics — This site provides a list of research topics for students.
  

RBC Library Guides to Research — Guides/handouts with colorful screen shots created by the RBC library staff:

• RBC Online Tutorial: A Ten-Step Guide to Research — A brief, but useful guide to writing a research paper.
• Accessing Articles and Other Full-Text Documents from PowerSearch (PDF)
• Accessing netLibrary eBooks (PDF)
• Finding Editorials using PowerSearch and Factiva (PDF)
• Finding Literature Resources for ENG 102 (PDF)
• Finding Biology-Related Newspaper Articles (PDF)
• Online Interlibrary Loan Request Form (PDF)
• Order Books on Interlibrary Loan through WorldCat (PDF)
• Research Tips for Dual-Enrollment Psychology Students (PDF)
• Using LION (Libraries Online) — The Online Library Catalog (PDF)

Research Paper—Tips & Techniqes:

• Email the RBC Writing Lab — Administered by Professor Alexandra Duckworth.
• OWL at Purdue: Handouts — Purdue University's Online Writing Lab publishes handouts on writing and research process.
• Research Strategies: Finding Your Way through the Information Fog — This site covers the entire research process in some depth. The site includes an online textbook, study guide, syllabus and more.
• Resources/Selected Internet Sites - From the Pearl A. Wanamaker Library — This is a wonderful site for topic ideas and links to evaluated Web sites on topics. Most useful for current and controversial topics.
  
  
  
  Citing your Research Paper:
  
  
• APA and MLA Citation Guides — Developed by RBC Librarians.
  
  
  
  Avoiding Plagiarism:
  
  
• Academic Integrity Tutorial / RBC Council on Academic Intregrity — Learn what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.
• Avoiding Plagiarism / UC Davis — Overview of plagiarism along with tips for avoiding it.
• Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism: Documentation and Guidelines / Duke University
• Plagiarism: A Guide for Students / Paul Robeson Library, Rutgers University — Overview of plagiarism along with tips for avoiding it.
• Plagiarism & Academic Integrity at Rutgers University — View online scenarios which demonstrate how to conduct effective research and avoid plagiarism.
• The Plagiarism Quiz / Paul Robeson Library, Rutgers University — Test your knowledge of plagiarism.
• Plagiarism: What It Is and How to Recognize and Avoid It / Indiana University — This site offers many useful tips and suggestions for avoiding plagiarism.
• Using Sources / Hamilton College Writing Center
  

Evaluating Web Sites:

Web Site Evaluation in a Nutshell (read on for more info!)
	Quality web sites contain accurate and reliable information from a trustworthy source.
	Questionnable web sites may contain inaccurate information perhaps with an overly biased slant from an unknown or unreliable source.

• Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply and Questions to Ask / UC Berkeley
• Evaluating Web Sites / University of Maryland

To appreciate the importance of web site evaluation, compare these two web sites on Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Martin Luther King, Jr.: A True Historical Examination available at: http://www.martinlutherking.org/ — Despite its professional look and fancy title, the tone and content of this web page suggests a very strong racial bias and further investigation indicates that this web page was created by the Stormfront White Nationalist Group. Note that this site comes up as the third entry in a Google search for "Martin Luther King."
• The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project at: http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/ — This comprehensive web site devoted to the life and works of Dr. King is made available by Stanford University, a very reputable educational institution.

Remember that the Internet provides anyone a computer and Internet access the opportunity to create a web page. Just how factual is this web page of AIDS Facts? http://147.129.226.1/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm

Page updated September 25, 2007
Questions/Comments dvroman@rbc.edu