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Getting Started with Research

Learn about the research process from topic to writing and citing. Find information about locating sources such as books, articles, and films.

Basler Library Citation Guides

Major Citation Styles - Official and Credible Guidance

Official Style Manuals

Check with your teacher to know which style you should be using for each class.

 

English and History fields

Humanities & Social Sciences fields

Humanities & Social Sciences fields

 

 

Unofficial yet Credible Style Resources

Organizing Your Research - Avoiding Plagiarism

Avoiding plagiarism means ensuring you give proper credit to those whose ideas you are borrowing in your own work through citation. One great way to track where you get your ideas is to take good notes during your research process.

The best way to organize your research is to find a way that works for you! Here are some suggestions:

A table showing several options for organizing research

Notecards

Notecards icon from Noun Project

Spreadsheet

Noun project icon of spreadsheet

Research Journal

composition book icon from Noun Project

Reference/Citation Manager 

Quotation icon from Noun Project

ZoteroRefWorks, etc.

Whatever approach you choose, consider highlighting useful search words, subject headings, and keeping track of where you found your information sources in case you or another researcher needs to go back to verify the information you cite. 

Help with writing & editing your paper

The Writing Center

The Writing Center [TWC] is located on the first floor of the Library in room L101. Writing center staff will be available to help with your essays, research, and more.  

At the Writing Center, they can help with any writing assignment for any class at any stage in the process. That means they can help you:

  • brainstorm a topic
  • refine your thesis
  • organize a rough draft
  • practice paraphrasing or incorporating source material
  • understand a citation style like MLA, APA, or Turabian
  • revise your work before final submission

Schedule an Appointment

Inside the Writing Center, several tables with chairs facing each other

Locating a Permalink for your Citations

Some citation styles require or suggest you include a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or web address in your bibliography. If you copy the URL from your browser bar, it may not work for other people, especially if your information source is in a library database. Instead, it is preferable to use the a permanent link or "permalink" in your citation so that others can find the resource, even if they are off campus or attend a different university. 

Library Subscription Databases

  • In EBSCO databases, look for the Permalink option under Tools in the right sidebar. Once you click on it, a new bar will appear in the middle of your screen with a link that you can copy and paste.

Screenshot of Ebsco Permalink

  • In Gale databases, click the Get Link button.  You will get a pop up with the link.

            Click on Get Link in Gale databases to get a permanent link to an article.

  • In JSTOR, locate the Stable URL to the left side of the article.  This is the link you will use.

            In JSTOR, the stable URL is to the left of the article or book chapter.

  • In ProQuest databases, click the Abstract/Details tab and look for the Document URL.

Screen shot of ProQuest permalink called 'Document URL'

Library Catalog

The library's catalog and search tool has a Permalink feature:

Click on Permalink in the Library Catalog to get a permanent link to an item.

Government Publications

Government websites and documents often have a permalink called a pURL (Pronounced like "pearl"). PURLs provide stable URLs to online Federal information.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

A DOI is an alternative to a permalink. Your citation style may call for you to include just the DOI name (E.g: DOI: 10.5555/12345678), or the DOI URL (E.g.: "the full DOI" or https://doi.org/10.5555/12345678).

Learn more about persistent links for library resources.