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Research Aids

Here are a few good sites to consult as you begin your writing and research:

Nimitz Library: The library's web site provides online access to the library catalog as well as a database of print and electronic journals.

The Library of Congress: The holdings of the Library of Congress include virtually every work ever published.  This is your one-stop shop for obscure or hard-to-find sources.

Guide to Online Research: Located at St. Louis University, this site provides guidance for writers conducting research on the internet.

Writing in other disciplines

These web sites feature information on writing in disciplines other than humanities, such as sciences and engineering (lab reports, etc.):

Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students (Virginia Tech):

This site contains exercises, slideshows, and templates for students writing in the engineering and science disciplines.

Engineering Communication Centre @ The University of Toronto:

The University of Toronto's site features interactive tutorials and an online writing handbook for engineering communication.

Evaluating Internet Research Sources: Learn how to distinguish between reliable and questionable internet sources.

Documentation Formats

Proper documentation of sources can be tricky, especially when you consider the confusing array of formats and guidelines in use across the curriculum.  Below you can find links to the documentation formats themselves, as well as frequently asked questions and help for documenting online sources.

USNA Guide to Documentation: This guide should be your first stop when looking for help citing and documenting sources in academic papers and essays.  It provides an overview of the various documentation formats in use across the USNA curriculum and is particularly tailored to the needs and interests of midshipmen.

Modern Language Association of America (MLA) Format: MLA format is most commonly required for English courses.

• Purdue University's online guide to MLA Style is one of the most thorough and helpful tools available. The site also includes great links to several other online resources for users of the MLA guidelines.
• How to Cite and Document Web Sources from Bedford / St. Martin's
• Frequently Asked Questions about MLA Style from the MLA

Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) Format: CMS format is most commonly required for history and political science courses.

• Bibliographic Reference Format Guide from the University of Georgia
• How to Cite and Document Web Sources from Bedford / St. Martin's
• CMS Questions & Answers provides common Q & A's about CMS format.
• CMS Tools, including examples of CMS documentation, from the University of Chicago Press.

American Institute of Physics (AIP) Format: AIP format is most commonly required for physics courses.

• Complete AIP Style Manual Online from the American Institute of Physics

Council of Science Editors (CBE) Format: CMS format is most commonly required for science courses.

• Guide to CBE Format from UNC, Chapel Hill
• How to Cite and Document Web Sources from Bedford / St. Martin's
• CBE Seventh Edition Preview, including information on internet sources, from the CSE

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