Embedded Resources: SNC

On campus? Visit the JWU Writing Lab at either Downcity or Harborside for fast and easy help with assignments. Whether you're just getting started or need final editing advice, the student writing coaches are super kind and trained to help you at any stage of the writing process.

Top Four Tips for Working with the Writing Lab:

1.    Open Mon - Thurs 4-10 pm, Sun 12-10 pm.
2.    Walk-ins welcome; appointments strongly recommended.
3.    Book an appointment: http://pvd.library.jwu.edu/writinglab​ 

 

Curious about how it all works? Check out this sweet video created by an awesome team of JWU students!  

Did you know you can also submit your paper online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Smarthinking for seriously awesome feedback within 24 -48 hours?  It's FREE!  Look for the link in JWULink, under the Academic tab, under Tutoring.

For in-person tutoring, help with accommodations for students living with disabilities, and study-skills workshops, contact the Center for Academic Support.

Using Google can be really helpful when you're doing research, especially if you use these quick tips!

1. Change the "Domain"​

• Looking for Government information?  Use .gov in your search
  • If you search "Statistics on the economy" site:gov, you'll find government sites focusing on the economy, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Looking for Education resources?  Use .edu in your search
  • If you search "statistics on the economy" site:edu, you'll find academic sites focusing on the economy, such as articles from colleges and universities.
• Looking for Non-Profit research?  Use .org in your search
  • If you search "statistics on the economy" site:org, you'll find non-profit sites focusing on the economy, such as the United Nations Statistics division.

​2. Put your search in "Quotes"

• If you're searching for more than one word, use quotes to search as a phrase.
  • ​EX:  "Student Loans"

3. Google Scholar

• A Google Scholar search will bring you lots of academic results, and it is a great place to start.  
  • If you can't read the articles online, let us know and we'll find the Full Tex

Did you know you can copy and paste citations if you use the library's databases?

1. Save time -  look for the "Cite" Button or " " icon.

2. Scroll to the style you need (MLA, APA)

3. Copy and paste the full citation into your paper

Ta Da!  You're done!  Well, almost.  Sometimes weird formatting issues happen, so always double check your work.

Need help with in-text citations or more complicated citations?  Use the OWL!  It's super easy, and totally simple. This is also a really good time to make an appointment with a writing tutor to make sure your paper is totally perfect and all your citations are good to go.

Working on your Annotated Bibliography?  We can help!

An annotation is super simple - basically, it's a few sentences about the kind of source you're using.  Our friends at the OWL have some awesome, detailed tips!

An annotation is a summary and/or evaluation. Therefore, an annotated bibliography includes a summary and/or evaluation of each of the sources. Depending on your project or the assignment, your annotations may do one or more of the following.

1. Summarize: Some annotations merely summarize the source. What are the main arguments? What is the point of this book or article? What topics are covered? If someone asked what this article/book is about, what would you say? The length of your annotations will determine how detailed your summary is.

   For more help, see our handout on paraphrasing sources.

2. Assess: After summarizing a source, it may be helpful to evaluate it. Is it a useful source? How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is the information reliable? Is this source biased or objective? What is the goal of this source?

   For more help, see our handouts on evaluating resources.

3. Reflect: Once you've summarized and assessed a source, you need to ask how it fits into your research. Was this source helpful to you? How does it help you shape your argument? How can you use this source in your research project? Has it changed how you think about your topic?

Your annotated bibliography may include some of these, all of these, or even others. If you're doing this for a class, you should get specific guidelines from your instructor.