IWU OCLS Blog

Research, Writing & Citations, Oh My!

Research, Writing & Citations, Oh My! 

We know that you would rather be doing things other than researching and writing your papers. 

We understand the frustration that research and writing can cause. You have what it takes to succeed, and we are here to guide you through the research process and help answer your citation questions.

When you have research, writing, and citations to do, your reaction doesn't need to be, "Oh my!". 

Here are 6 things to try.

1. Research Help - Start your research by using keywords from your topic or research question.
   
   If you can’t find what you are looking for after 30 minutes, ask for research help!
   
   We guide you through research by creating customized Personalized Search Plans (PSPs), so you can go to the right databases and choose the right filters to find what you are looking for. This is similar to Amazon's filters that you pick and choose what works best for your needs.
    


2. Writing - After research comes writing, and this is what many students are nervous about.
   
   OCLS can help you with Word and PowerPoint.
   
   As an IWU student, you can access Grammarly Premium to help you be confident that your papers are written clearly and with correct grammar.  


3. Citation Help - We help you learn how to give credit or cite other works in your papers.
   
   You have access to a wonderful tool called Academic Writer that helps make the writing process much easier. You can concentrate on writing your paper's content instead of worrying if the APA format and citations are correct.


4. APA Review - Do you ever want someone else to look at your paper before you turn it in? When you have completed your final draft, request a format review. We will look at your paper and give you feedback on your citations, references, and other APA style elements. 


5. Plan Ahead - Planning ahead is the key to success! It is essential to start planning and working on assignments as soon as possible. We all know life throws us curveballs, especially when it feels like you are already running behind. Planning will let you use your time wisely and gives you enough time to ask for help. When you contact OCLS, we pledge to respond within two (2) business days. Business days do not include weekends or holidays. 


6. Keep Practicing - As with any new skill, you need to practice. Start researching on your own, but ask for help when you need it. Check out the OCLS Tutorials Page for research guides, Academic Writer and Grammarly tutorials, and much more! 

When you get stuck or have research questions, remember that OCLS is here to help guide you through searching databases, and creating and writing citations. 

Contact OCLS by filling out the OCLS Request Form.