Need Help?
Need research help and not sure where to turn? Get help from the library via email, chat, and online appointments or stop by one of our reference desks during open hours of operation.
Want to contact your Nursing & Health Sciences Librarian or set up a virtual or F2F appointment with her? Email Debra Smith: smithkak@cod.edu
Specialized Research Tools
"Best Bet" Citation Resources:
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APA StyleThe official American Psychological Association site on APA Style and the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual. Find tutorials, videos, style & grammar guidelines, in-text citations, reference examples, and how to format papers in APA Style (sample papers provided)
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APA Style--Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)These OWL resources will help you learn how to use the American Psychological Association (APA) citation and format style. This section contains resources on in-text citation and the References page, as well as APA sample papers
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COD Library's APA GuideThis guide provides examples of 7th Edition APA citations that are most commonly used by students at the College of DuPage
Need to Cite Resources from Micromedex or CareNotes? Follow the guidelines in the handout linked here:
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GCF LearnFreeAre you struggling with APA style because you lack the computer (word processing) skills to create margins, annotations, block indents, headings, or double spacing? Quickly access step-by-step directions, screen shots and short video-clips of how to perform various software functions for most versions of Office and Word
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COD's Writing, Reading, Speech Assistance (WRSA)Make an appointment with the Learning Commons' Writing, Reading, Speech Assistance (WRSA) area . Check out their APA 7th ed. paper template and writing guides
Helpful Plagiarism Resources from APA and the COD Library
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Avoiding Plagiarism Guide, APA Style 7th EditionA two-page handout (PDF) reviewing the most common types of plagiarism and how to avoid them by using proper citation methods.
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APA Style 7th ed. Plagiarism Topic PageThe American Psychological Associations overview (topic) page on plagiarism including references to the Style Manual's sections addressing plagiarism and proper citation of sources.
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Plagiarism & Writing with Sources from the COD LibraryThe goal of the plagiarism tutorial is to provide students with information that will help them distinguish between plagiarism and novice writing; understand the purpose of citations; explain the differences between summarizing, paraphrasing and patchwriting; and identify resources for successful academic writing.
Annotated Bibliography (Annotated References)
An annotated bibliography (also called an annotated reference list) may be required as a part of your coursework
- An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for various books, articles, and other sources used in your paper/project
- The annotated bibliography looks like an APA Reference page but includes an annotation (a brief paragraph) after each source cited
- Annotated bibliographies can be part of a larger research project, or can be a stand-alone
- If required, annotated bibliographies should be double-spaced
- Content of annotations varies dependent upon assignment and instructor preference
- Many COD instructors require that in 3-5 sentences you explain two things in your annotated bibliography:
- 1.) the reasons why you think the source is credible (see Evaluating Sources) and
- 2.) how this resource fits into your final project (for example, it has overview information, it provides treatment options, etc)
- APA does not specify the content of annotations so be sure to check with your instructor about what should be included
- Formatting of annotations can vary. Some guides suggest that annotations should be block indented five spaces, other guides recommend block indenting five spaces plus two (for a total of seven spaces). Check with your instructor for preferred formatting
How to Read a Research Study Article
Reading a research study article is not the same as reading an article in a magazine. Use the helpful tips in this handout to help you read and understand research articles.
How Do I...
General Research Tools
- Citing Sources
- Examples and tools for creating APA, MLA, and other types of citations
- Evaluating Sources
- Learn to critically examine information sources for academic and everyday purposes
- Research Fundamentals
- This guide is a starting point for researching and documenting your work
- Assignment Calculator
- Use the Assignment Calculator to help plan your research assignments
- Library Workshops
- Our free workshops cover advanced research methods, our premium online research tools, and new and emerging technology.
- Learning Commons
- Get Math and Writing, Reading, and Speech assistance or tutoring or testing help.
Are you really stuck? Schedule an appointment with a librarian!