Citations
The following sites are all very helpful, easy to read guidelines for using citations in both MLA and APA format. Each section includes rules and examples.

MLA in-text citations: http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c08_s1.html
MLA list of works cited: http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c08_s2.html
Sample research papers - MLA style: http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c08_s5.html
APA in-text citations: http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c09_s1.html
APA list of references: http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c09_s2.html
Sample research papers - APA style: http://dianahacker.com/pdfs/Hacker-Mira-APA.pdf

Research Paper Sites
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_ressteps.html
A clear and concise checklist of ordered steps you can take to write a research paper.

http://www.rio.maricopa.edu/services/student/support/library/infolit_assignment.shtml
A definition of research tips for the researching and writing process, as well as good details about each step of the writing process.

http://www.crlsresearchguide.org
Great in-depth tips for researching and using the information in your paper. It also has very helpful ideas for keeping all your information organized. Click on the highlighted main point of each step to get a more detailed description of that term or strategy.

Good General Sites
Note: when using the following sites as references, be VERY careful not to plagiarize any information. Plagiarism is a serious offense and can result in expulsion from SFSU.

http://www.bartleby.com
Free access to online dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia and many other reference materials. Extensive information on literature and great for looking up quotations.

http://www.turnitin.com/research_site/e_home.html
Very helpful information on how to use references appropriately. Definition of plagiarism and other common terms in research, guidelines for proper citations, tips on how to avoid plagiarizing, and answers to frequently asked questions.

http://classweb.gmu.edu/nccwg/eval-non-web-sources.htm
Information on how to choose good sources for research. Questions to ask to evaluate the credibility of sources and why credible sources are important for writing a good research paper.

Web Research
http://www.slu.edu/departments/english/research
Thorough and detailed guide to researching on the web. Includes information on reading web pages, evaluating internet sources, identifying different types of web pages, and using search engines. Very helpful explanations and strategies.

http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/help/critical/index.htm
Specific questions to ask to evaluate web resources. Tips on how to think critically about the content, source, and structure of web sites.

San Francisco State’s Library
http://www.library.sfsu.edu/
Access to the InvestiGator catalog for locating library materials and databases to find journal and newspaper articles. Also includes research advice, information on library services, and the OASIS tutorial for fulfilling the SFSU library requirement.

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