The problem with most online resource guides of this type is that they are not sufficiently
selective, nor are they annotated. The user is overwhelmed with so many dozens or even hundreds
of unevaluated links that the entire purpose of the guide (making it easy and fast to find what
you need on the Net) is defeated.
Our objective here is to offer you a selected, annotated list of just enough valuable online
research and writing resources that this guide can serve as a starting point for almost any kind
of project. Bookmark this page — and let us know which new resources you discover that you
feel should be included.
(The emphasis here is on resources that are free.)
My Virtual Reference Desk
Sections include “My Homework Helper,” “Ask the Experts” and
“Quick Ref/Research.” Access Bartlett’s Quotations, Roget’s Thesaurus,
Encyclopedia.com and many other valuable sources from this site.
Research-It!
A wide variety of research tools, in search engine format, nicely laid out on one page.
Very user-friendly. Useful for basic research.
The Internet Public Library
Features an extensive online literary criticism collection, as well as free searchable databases
for literally hundreds of periodicals, often with full-text articles available at no charge.
Librarians’ Index to the Internet
Includes a multitude of categories in its index, which so far fits on one screen, without
scrolling, so it’s easy to review at a glance.
Ask Jeeves! (aka Ask.com)
One of the best search tools currently available on the Net. Allows you to ask your question
in conversational form, then provides a very wide range of links for possible answers.
Homework Help
Most valuable for pre-college students who can afford to wait at least a day for an answer.
Electric Library
The closest thing to an open full-text periodical database on the Internet so far,
offering a 30-day free trial period. If you can’t access EBSCO, InfoTrac, First Search
or another online database requiring some kind of membership, elibrary can be useful.
ResearchPaper.com
Run by the same folks as Electric Library, this site can be good for finding paper topics,
if you haven’t yet found your focus.
Ask ERIC (Education Database)
You can search the database and get abstracts for free.
UMI Dissertation Abstracts
You can actually search this site and retrieve abstracts for free, as well as order copies
of dissertations.
A Web of On-Line Dictionaries
The English-language quick look-up function is based on Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate
Dictionary, Tenth Edition.
Reference Desk: Dictionaries
(Librarians’ Index to the Internet — Access from Reference Desk/Dictionaries)
Includes a wide range of specialized resources, including a rhyming dictionary, legal dictionary,
medical dictionary and acronym finder.
Roget’s (Searchable) Thesaurus of English Words
and Phrases
More detailed than the thesaurus functions within MS Word or WordPerfect. Similar to the bound
paper version.
Acronyms and Abbreviations Finder
A quick way of finding the complete words behind an unknown initialism or acronym.
Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations
An excellent tool for brainstorming or livening up your writing.
Strunk’s Elements of Style
This slender classic deserves regular consultation and review. This is the “Bible”
of the simple & direct style.
Encyclopedia.com
More than 17,000 articles from the Concise Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia,
Third Edition, can be accessed at no charge.
Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook
Good source for getting basic background information on any country.
Z39.50 Gateway (Library of Congress)
Search the Library of Congress catalog, as well as hundreds of other library catalogs from
around the US and the world.
Psychology with Style
Summarizes much material from the notorious APA Style Manual, based on a 1995 edition.
Caution: APA comes in different versions and is subject to interpretation on many points.
Also, the 1995 edition has since been revised and updated.
A chapter-by-chapter summary of the changes between the fourth and fifth (current) editions
may be found at
APA Online.
The Works of the Bard (includes Shakespeare search engine)
"Dead white male" though he may be, the Bard remains unequalled.
Princeton Review Online
Good source for information about college, grad school, professional schools and test-taking.
Creative Cafe
Stimulation to get your creative juices flowing, when you are stuck and in need of inspiration, a change of pace or simply a bit of on-track diversion.
EFL.NET: The English Learning Site
Combines audio with text, to help you learn English through poetry, songs, puzzles and other games.
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