Chapter 23: RESOURCES & READINGS                   How can you use online resources for writing papers? ---          CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE:   Introduction Your College Library Readings on the Web Specific Types of Papers & Disciplines/Professions --- Introduction Much writing starts with reading and research.  In many cases, you start with texts.  But good college writing--especially when it involves research--requires finding excellent resources.  There are a number of sources for such materials.  Some common examples are 1. Materials required or recommended by your instructor 2. Materials found in your college or other nearby library 3. Materials you discover or create for yourself, such as in interviews, lab research, or field research 4. Materials you find on the web This brief chapter is about what you can find on the web to help you write better.  --- Return to top.     Your College Library The importance of a library in writing papers is still unequalled.  This is true even more in our times, when online information is becoming much more common than printed information.  This is because more and more scholarly and professional resources--journals, books, news, and reference materials--are now online.  And often you have to go to--or through--your own college library or its website to access these materials for free. In fact, we should look at a more modern definition of what a library is.  A library is not just a physical building or location.  It has become much more.  It is a "resource center" that includes not just printed materials but also a very important website and web network--like a giant spider's web of resources--that reach both on campus and far beyond it to national and international resources.  Your own college library--even the smallest physical library--can have an enormous number of online resources unavailable to you on the free Web, and unavailable in a public library, as well.  This is because college libraries have a significant part of their budgets devoted to subscribing to online academic, scholarly, and professional journals, news sources, and a wide array of other subscription-only information that can be highly useful in research.  College libraries also often have some of the very best-trained individuals--librarians--for finding significant research materials using subscription-only online services.  These libraries subscribe to these million-plus resources specifically to help students learn and complete research.  And they pay well-trained librarians to help the students.  Take advantage of the money you are paying--or someone is paying--for your education.  Ask a librarian to show you what is available for your own research project.  Librarians also can show you how to access your college library system online from other locations on campus or from where you live. --- Return to top.    Readings on the Web You also can access literally millions of college-level readings simply and easily through the Web.  One of the best ways to access them is to use a search engine such as Google. Then learn to search using phrases. Often your best bet is to use at least two or three search phrases until you find what you want. In fact, one of the most important and greatest keys to finding material online is to know how to use a search engine creatively, thoroughly, and repeatedly. Here are some tips when researching college papers. GRAMMAR If you want grammar help, try a few search phrases: for example, "grammar help" "college grammar" "free help with grammar." "English as Second Language help with grammar" One very popular and successful site for college grammar is the "Purdue Online Writing Lab" (also known as "OWL grammar"). A popular high school and general grammar website is "Grammarly" (spelled with two "a's," no "e"). It has both free and subscription services. LITERATURE If you are looking for good literature to read, numerous sources exist. Use several phrases that narrow your search to the kind of literature you want. Do you want the literature to be free and online to read? Do you want a list of titles? Do you want to know what books a particular author or group of authors have written? Try phrases such as these: literature about Blacks literature by Louise Erdrich Louis Erdrich novels U.S. literature 19?? ["19??" means "1900-1999"] Texas writers literature Texas writers literature online readings pdf of Mark Twain writings study guide for Mark Twain writings reviews of Amy Tan books If you work creatively to use words for what you want, often you will find what you are seeking. ARGUMENT AND GENERAL READINGS If you are searching for arguments, pro or con, to help support a position you are taking, then try searches using a variety of the key words you need. To start, you may want to look up the key words for your argument, or for the opposite side's argument. To do that, use a "synonym" ("same as") or "antonym" ("opposite of") search. For example, synonym capitalism synonym money good antonym democracy antonym evil If you don't find specifically what you are looking for, then take one of the words or phrases in the results of your search, and use that for another search. Once you know what specific word or phrase you want to use, then you can look for articles and essays about it. Place the word or phrase into a new search with, for example, one of these phrases: democracy article essay democracy argument 2020 democracy editorial 2010-2020 democracy pros and cons essay Chicago Tribune The more specific you can make your request, sometimes the better. GENERAL READINGS If you simply are looking for general readings on a subject, then search using phrases that describe what you want: democracy readings about newspaper writing about democracy books on democracy essays about democracy editorials about democracy newspaper magazine articles about democracy local news about.... local books 20?? about.... Texas news about.... Texas books 19?? about.... history about ____ --- Return to top.   Specific Types of Papers & Disciplines/Professions OnlineGrammar.org also has many dozens of sample papers, along with many short sets of instructions on how to write them.  Go to these parts of www.OnlineGrammar.org to find sample papers and instructions for writing them: "Perfect [Research] Papers?" Chapter 12. "Types of [1st- & 2nd-yr.] Papers" Chapter 20. "Writing in Majors, Disciplines, Professions" Chapter 21. "Applications, Resumes, Cover Letters" --- Return to top.