Writing Help

Writing Rubric

A rubric is a guide that provides teachers with information for improving a student’s product or project. A writing rubric allows a teacher to determine what areas a student needs help in to improve their writing skills.

A button box and link to MLC’s rubric is provided in the left column.

Reference Materials

• Dictionaries
• Thesaurus
  • Find synonyms and word suggestions in this online searchable thesaurus that features 260,000 synonyms and cross-references in an easy-to-use format, succinct word definitions, and an innovative hyperlinked category index.
• Encyclopedias

---

Extra Help

• Finding Books
• Finding Journal Articles

Citation management software at MLC.

Currently, the library does not purchase citation software for our campus family. However, there are many products that are available for you to use online. Some require a purchase or fee, but many are free. Here is a list of the more popular citation software tools.

Commercial:

• RefWorks: An annual license (12-month subscription) includes feature upgrades and online support.
• EndNote: You can buy for personal use and offers a reduced price for students.
• Bookends: A reference manager for Mac and iOS users. This is also a purchased product that has a reduced price for students.
• Paperpile:  Annual fee, built for Chrome & Google Apps.
• DEVONthink: For those of you who use Mac running OS X 10.9 or later. Organize materials, manage data, and search your files.

Free and Open-sourced:

• Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is free and open-source.
• Mendeley is a free reference manager and academic social network that can help you organize your research, collaborate with others online, and discover the latest research.

Basic Citation and Bibliography Sources

• Microsoft Office Word Citations & Bibliography
• Endnote Web Basic
• Citation Builder from the University of North Carolina.
• EasyBib The Free Automatic Bibliography and Citation Generator.

Whatever program you decide to use, it will take a certain amount of time to learn the system well enough to get the benefits. These tools really will improve your work, it is well worth your time.

---

Find comparisons of a more comprehensive list of citation managers at Wikipedia’s Comparison of reference management software

Citation Builder

University of North Carolina:
Citation Builder is one of the many applications designed to let you quickly build citations for the various citation styles.

A button box and link to Citation Builder are provided in the left column.

Citation Manuals

• APA: American Psychological Association

  • the official guide to APA style
  • Print Edition
  • Call Number: BF 76.7 .P83 2020

• A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations:

  • Chicago style for students and researchers; revised edition. University of Chicago Press editorial staff.
  • Print Edition
  • Call Number: LB 2369 .T8 2007

• Cite Right

  • A quick guide to citation styles–MLA, APA, Chicago, the sciences, professions, and more.
  • Print Edition:
  • Call Number: >N147 .G444 200

• Chicago Manual of Style Online 17th edition

  • A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations: Chicago style for students and researchers, 2017.
  • Online Edition

• Chicago Manual of Style

  • The University of Chicago. Press.
  • Print Edition
  • Call Number: Z 253 .U69 1993

• The SBL Handbook of Style

  • The essential style manual for writing and publishing in biblical studies and related fields.
  • Print Edition
  • Call Number: PN 147 .S26 2014

Plagiarism

What is plagiarism? “Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the “wrongful appropriation,” “close imitation,” or “purloining and publication” of another author’s “language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions,” and the representation of them as one’s own original work.” From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Copyright Resources

• “Educational Screenings of Documentaries.”  Netflix. https://help.netflix.com/en/node/57695
• “Exceptions & Limitations: Classroom Use, Fair Use, and more.”  The University of Minnesota Libraries. https://www.lib.umn.edu/copyright/limitations
• “Exceptions for Instructors in U.S. Copyright Law.” .  https://librarycopyright.net/resources/exemptions/index.php?startOver=true
• “Films in the Classroom.”  Lawrence Technological University.   https://www.ltu.edu/library/teachact_films.asp
• “May one stream a Netflix Video for in-class use?” University of North Texas Libraries.  https://www.library.unt.edu/news/may-one-stream-netflix-video-class-use  
• The Original TEACH Act Toolkit.  https://lib.lsu.edu/services/copyright/teach/index
• “Performance of or Showing Films in the Classroom.”  American Library Association. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/copyright/fairuse/web-digital%20delivery%20in%20classroomrev3psa.pdf  

Fair Use

• Fair Use Evaluator tool. http://librarycopyright.net/resources/fairuse/index.php

Music & Video

• “6 Myths about Copyright, Music, and Video.”  School Video News. http://schoolvideonews.com/Copyright/6-of-the-BIGGEST-Myths-about-Copyright-Music-and-Video
• “Copyright issues when using music in videos.”  School Video News. http://schoolvideonews.com/Copyright/Copyright-issues-when-using-music-in-videos
• Copyright/Video General Questions.  American Library Association. http://libguides.ala.org/copyright/video
• “Music & Copyright.”  Washington State University.   https://ucomm.wsu.edu/getting-permission-where-how/
• Phillips, Pam, and Andrew Surmani.  Copyright Handbook for Music Educators and Directors: A Practical, Easy-to-Read Guide.  Alfred Music, 2017.
• Video and Copyright: ALA Library Fact Sheet Number 7. http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=libraryfactsheet&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=24635

Permission & Licenses

• “Copyright: Performance Licenses.”  National Association for Music Education.   https://nafme.org/my-classroom/copyright/copyright-performance-licenses/
• “Copyright Permissions and LipDubs.”  School Video News. http://schoolvideonews.com/Copyright/Copyright-Permissions-and-LipDubs
• Creative Commons.  https://creativecommons.org/
• Getting permission: Where & how?” Washington State University.   https://ucomm.wsu.edu/getting-permission-where-how/
• “How to Get Media Permissions for Your Videos and Other Media.”  School Video News. http://schoolvideonews.com/Copyright/6-of-the-BIGGEST-Myths-about-Copyright-Music-and-Video
• Swank K-12 Movie Licensing: https://www.swank.com/k-12-schools/licensing-options/

General Websites

• Copyright Basics, including link to Fair Use Checklist. https://copyright.columbia.edu/basics.html
• Copyright Quick Guide.  Columbia University Copyright Advisory Office.  https://copyright.columbia.edu/basics/copyright-quick-guide.html
• “A Framework for Analyzing any U.S. Copyright Problem.”  https://lib.calpoly.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/copyright_five_questions.pdf
• Johnson, Doug.  “Library murals – a pet peeve.”  The Blue Skunk Blog, June 4, 2013.  http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2013/6/4/library-murals-a-pet-peeve.html
• Lawrence, Star.  “Teachers Should Know Copyright from Wrong.”    Edutopia, March 20, 2008. https://www.edutopia.org/copyright-rules-teachers
• Some actual copyright in schools cases and their resolutions:  http://www.carolsimpson.com/copyright/copyright_action_data_results.htm  

General Books

• Butler, Rebecca P.  Copyright for Academic Librarians and Professionals.  American Library Association, 2014.
• Crews, Kenneth D.  Copyright Law for Librarians and Educators: Creative Strategies and Practical Solutions.  3d ed.  American Library Association, 2012.
• Russell, Carrie.  Complete Copyright for K-12 Librarians and Educators.  American Library Association, 2012.
  • Related webinar (free) at https://ala.adobeconnect.com/_a1087453682/p40nvbq84r5/?proto=true
• Simpson, Carol Ann.  Copyright Catechism II: Practical Answers to Everyday School Dilemmas.  Linworth, 2011.
• Simpson, Carol.  Copyright for Schools: A Practical Guide, 5th ed.  Linworth, 2010.
• Simpson, Carol.  Copyright for Administrators.  Linworth, 2008.

General Articles

• “The Educator’s Guide to Copyright and Fair Use.” Education World.  http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr280.shtml
• “Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians.”  United States Copyright Office. Simpson, Carol. Copyright for Administrators.  Linworth, 2008.
• Simpson, Carol.  “Copyright 101.” Educational Leadership vol. 59, no. 4, Dec. 2001/Jan. 2002, p. 36-38. http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/dec01/vol59/num04/Copyright-101.aspx

Online Courses

• Copyright for Educators & Librarians https://www.coursera.org/learn/copyright-for-education
• Copyright for Multimedia https://www.coursera.org/learn/copyright-for-multimedia