Writing

Hot Topics

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:02:45 -0700

Literary Leanings

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:06:23 -0700

Databases

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:45:58 -0700

Special Thanks

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:15:30 -0800

to Bob Kingston, who updated this guide.

Search the Library Catalog

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:26:15 -0700

Welcome to PCC Library. The Library Catalog is your starting point to find books, ebooks, DVDs, articles, and other materials.

Writer's Almanac

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:35:54 -0700

Quotations

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:51:03 -0700

"The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart." - Maya Angelou

Carefully chosen and properly cited quotations are often a great way to add depth to your writing assignment. The library has several print volumes available for you to consult, or you could try using one of the following to locate an appropriate quote.

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations - Bartlett's is the standard reference source for quotations, and this online version contains over 11,000 searchable phrases, proverbs, and sayings. Highly recommended.

Proverbs, Maxims, and Phrases of All Ages - Choose from over 20,000 quotations in this classic reference source.

A Dictionary of Similes - A simile compares two dissimilar things--"The writing subject guide is like a breath of fresh air," for example--and Frank Wilstach's 1916 compilation of similes is a great place to find them.

Writing for Different Disciplines

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:03:09 -0700

Invention: Questions for Writing about Literature - From the Writing Center at Hunter College.

Writing about History - From the University of Toronto.

Writing the Art History Paper - From the Writing Program at Darmouth College.

The Science of Scientific Writing - Excellent article from American Scientist.

Grammar

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:15:52 -0800

Grammar Handbook - This site from the University of Illinois "explains and illustrates the basic grammatical rules concerning parts of speech, phrases, clauses, sentences and sentence elements, and common problems of usage.

Guide to Grammar and Writing - Advice on grammar, punctuation, and usage questions arranged in drop-down menus under six headings.

Elements of Style - Based on William Strunk, Jr.'s classic reference book, this site covers rules of usage, principles of composition, and other helpful writing tips.

Guide to Grammar and Style - A guide to grammar, style, and usage written by Jack Lynch, Assistant Professor in the English department of the Newark campus of Rutgers University.

Grammar Bytes - Developed by an instructor at Valencia Community College, this site features terms, exercises, and links to YouTube videos on grammar-related topics.

EasyBib

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:27:43 -0700

EasyBib is a citation maker that allows you to search for or input your sources, build a works cited list, and then save, print, share, or export the finished product. The notebook feature enables you to take and organize notes quickly and efficiently, and the website evaluation tool alerts you to the credibility of the most commonly cited web resources. Registering through Facebook, Google, or Yahoo gives you premium access to EasyBib's services on any computer. And by using the chat widget on the right side of the screen, you can also get real-time help from a PCC reference librarian!

MLA Style - 7th edition (2009)

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:48:31 -0800

MLA Citation Samples - This handout, produced by PCC librarians, includes examples of the most commonly cited print and online sources.

Research and Documentation Online - How to cite in-text and in a works cited list. Tips and examples, using MLA style, 7th edition, 2009.

MLA Formatting and Style Guide - This Purdue University OWL guide has been updated to feature the latest changes in MLA formatting.

How to Format Parenthetical References - Librarians at Williams College have compiled a series of format examples for the different types of "in-text" or parenthetical citations.

Plagiarism

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:50:57 -0800

Plagiarism is a very serious form of academic dishonesty. According to PCC's Academic Integrity Policy [PDF], plagiarism is defined as

"the use of another's words, ideas, data, or product without appropriate acknowledgement, such as copying another's work, presenting someone else's opinions and theories as one's own, or working jointly on a project and then submitting it as one's own."

Students are responsible for knowing and understanding the penalties for violating the rules of academic integrity, including plagiarizing another person's work. The following resources will help you to identify and steer clear of plagiarism.

Avoiding Plagiarism - This OWL tutorial from Purdue University includes a handy list of safe practices for citing and crediting your sources and a short exercise for recognizing plagiarized or incorrectly cited sources.

Plagiarism: What It Is and How to Recognize and Avoid It - Detailed and informative explanation of plagiarism from Writing Tutorial Services at the University of Indiana.

APA Format - 6th edition (2009)

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:57:24 -0700

How to Cite Sources - The PCC Library page is a great place to start to find information on properly citing your sources. This link includes the library's own citation handouts as well as links to other helpful resources.

Basics of APA Style - The American Psychological Association has compiled an online style guide tutorial that walks the user through the basics of APA formatting.

APA Formatting and Style Guide - This Purdue University OWL guide covers the various types of materials, PowerPoint presentations, statistics, tables, and includes a sample APA paper.

Citing an Article in APA - Short video presentation from NOVA Southeastern University on how to cite journal articles in APA format.

APA Style Aid - A very thorough guide to citing sources in APA from CLIP (Cooperative Library Instruction Project). Highly recommended.

DOI - Proper APA citations should include a Digital Object Identifier, or DOI. Follow this link to find out more about the DOI and how to locate it in your article.

Scholarly vs Popular Periodicals

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:47:12 -0700

Very thorough discussion from the Peabody Library of the differences between scholarly and popular periodicals.

Peer Review Explained

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:54:31 -0700

This short video demystifies some assignments by explaining the peer review process; brought to us from librarians at North Carolina State University.

Writing the Academic Paper

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:07:42 -0700

Writing the Academic Paper - How does writing a paper for college differ from writing a paper for high school? How do you construct an informed argument? How do you choose a topic? This web page from the Darmouth College Writing Program will answer those questions and many more as well.

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:49:18 -0700

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography - Need to write an annotated bibliography as part of your assignment? Don't worry! The librarians at Cornell University have put together a very helpful guide that outlines the process.

Concept Mapping

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:46:29 -0700

Helpful video introduction to the process of concept mapping.

Writing Basics

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:38:17 -0800

Brainstorming - This handout from the Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has some excellent ideas and exercises for getting started with the writing process.

Starting the Writing Process - Another OWL tutorial from Purdue Univeristy, this one with excellent tips for beginning a writing assignment.

Argument: The Basic Principle - This resource from the University of Virginia Writing Center talks about the five basic components needed to make a good argument.

Structuring Your Research Paper [PDF] - The Writing Center at Vanderbilt University has compiled a list of hints for putting your research paper together.

Rhetorical Fallacies - Red herring, begging the question, and guilt by association are all examples of the kinds of rhetorical fallacies you should avoid in your writing. This handout from the Undergraduate Writing Center at the University of Texas provides brief descriptions and examples of the most commonly used fallacies of argument.

Creating a Thesis Statement

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:42:30 -0800

Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement - Coming up with a thesis statement for your assignment doesn't have to be a chore, especially when this OWL tutorial from Purdue University can guide you through the process.

Using the Web for Research

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:43:49 -0800

Evaluating Internet Sources

Evaluating Internet Sources - Short video tutorial from PCC Libraries.
Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply and Questions to Ask - This tutorial from the University of California, Berkeley Library is one of the best and most thorough resources around for evaluating information found online.
Evaluating Information Found on the Internet - Another excellent guide for evaluating web-based information sources, from the Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins University.

Internet Searching

Internet Searching Tips - Video tutorial from the PCC Libraries covering search basics, how to refine your search, and some of Google's advanced features.

Developing a Research Topic

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:54:29 -0700

Developing a Topic - These tips from PCC librarians focus on different ways of broadening or narrowing your topic.

The Art of Topic Development - An excellent tutorial on developing a topic from librarians at San José Statue University.

Get Help in Person

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:45:16 -0700

You can ask one of our librarians a question during open hours at any PCC Library.

PCC Library locations and hours

Chat or Text a Librarian for Help

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:21:42 -0700

You can chat with a PCC librarian any time you see the PCC Ask A Librarian chat widget on any of the library's pages (like the PCC LIbrary home page) or in a subject guide like this one. You can also get to us through AIM, Yahoo!, or Google Talk.

AIM/Y!: pcclib
Google Talk: pcclib@gmail

You can also text a librarian for help at:
971-259-TEXT (8398)

Need help when the library isn't open? Chat with an L-Net librarian 24-7.

Helping Yourself!

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:25:40 -0700

PCC Library has lots of resources that you can use on your own. You may already know that about the quiet study spaces as well as study rooms you can reserve.

But did you know the library also has video tutorials on everything from how to use the catalog to understanding how and why to cite sources? You'll find those videos, as well as information about using e-resources, at Tutorials and Handouts.

Help from Tutors

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 22:37:44 -0700

Tutors are available to you both in person and online, and the service is free! Cascade, Sylvania, Rock Creek and Southeast Center each have a tutoring center with in-person tutors in most subjects. More information about each campuses hours and locations at the links below:

Cascade Campus Learning Center

Rock Creek Student Learning Center

Tutoring at Southeast Center

Tutoring at Sylvania

Or get started working with PCC's online tutors:

eTutoring at PCC

Email Us

acordle@pcc.edu (Alan Cordle) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:57:02 -0800

Need to ask a question by email? That's easy too. Use Ask a Librarian, or find your favorite librarian's email address on Library Staff.