Homework Help

 

Citations

We all know that citations are necessary—but they can be incredibly confusing and downright annoying. Here are some sites with format notes and citation generators.
www.knightcite.com
www.citationmachine.net

 

College

www.actstudent.org
www.number2.com
www.collegeboard.com/testing/
www.enotes.com/sat-prep/

 

College Search

www.collegeboard.com
www.petersons.com
www.collegeaccesscenter.org
www.princetonreview.com/college/

English

www.enotes.com/lit
www.sparknotes.com
www.cliffnotes.com

Foreign Languages

Spanish: www.studyspanish.com/
French: globegate.utm.edu/french/globegate_mirror/gramm.html

Libraries

School Libraries
Especially when working on projects that have been done for many years, school libraries will have lots of resources for you to use. Vertical files are full of articles clipped from magazines and newspapers. Some also have many local history books and older publications. If you need something or have questions, just ask the librarian or a library aide for help. School libraries are generally open throughout the school day and sometimes after school—just ask a librarian what the schedule is.

Public Library
Go to any library branch and get a library card. It is not “uncool” or “geeky,” it’s VITAL!!! It only takes filling out an application and showing them your ID or a proof of residence to unlock tons of free resources and services.
The Chattanooga Hamilton-County Library system has so many books, databases, movies, microfiches, and other resources it’s not even funny. If you are unaccustomed to the Dewy Decimal System or library searches, see a librarian (they are very nice and helpful and want something to do—so don’t be scared). Not only can they take you to whatever you’re looking for, they can also suggest other resources to check out. The more you tell them about your project, the more they can help. (“I need information on Chattanooga’s historical landmarks,” will yield hundreds of books and articles. “I’m looking for information on the construction and restoration of the Walnut Street Bridge for a pictorial essay,” will narrow it down.) I would strongly suggest going to the Downtown branch (it’s on 10th and Broad with the huge book water fountain). If you can’t, go to the library webpage (www.lib.chattanooga.gov), and use the “Search Catalog” feature to find books and (using your library card), put them on hold at a branch that is more accessible. The library also has FIFTY online databases you can use if you have a library card. (Some of them can be difficult to navigate—librarians can show you how!) If you’re 18 or older (or have a parent who has a library card), you can also check out movies from the Downtown branch for FREE* (*On-Demand movies are $2).

College Libraries
College libraries are incredibly useful because they are designed for research. For information about using UTC’s Lupton Library, go to their website (www.lib.utc.edu/library). The Chattanooga State Augusta R. Kolwyk Library (www.library.chattanoogastate.edu) is free for public use; go to the Policies page for information regarding visitors.

 

Math

Algebra: www.algebrahelp.com/
Geometry: library.thinkquest.org/2647/geometry/geometry.htm
Calculus: www.math.ucdavis.edu/~calculus/

 

Research Guide

INTERNET
The Internet is FULL of information, but not all of it is correct. Anybody who can pay a fee can have a website about anything. If you are not using databases, make sure your resource is reliable. Set your search engine to pull .gov, .org, and .edu sites as their facts usually accurate. When using.edu sites (especially a college webpage), check to see if it is a paper or work done by a student. If so, see their works cited or bibliography and use those sources rather than information from the paper. Note that .com and .net sites are acceptable, so long as they are reputable—many news organizations have .com addresses. When in doubt, see your instructor!

Online Databases
The best resources are documents that have been published, but it can be difficult to look for one article out of a stack of magazines and newspapers or search through endless shelves of books for a few paragraphs. Luckily, online databases contain thousands (sometimes millions) of articles and excerpts that have been printed in reliable publications. Did I mention that the citation is usually posted on the page, too?

Tennessee Electronic Library: www.tennessee.gov/tsla/tel

Wilson Web: vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/jumpstart.jhtml

Research Interviews

Interviews are a great way to get first-hand knowledge and opinions. To find good interviewees, check out historical societies, organizations, and other groups whose work is related to your topic.
When interviewing, prepare a list of questions. Keep in mind that your interviewee might not know statistics or numbers off the top of their head, so think about other questions to ask. What was the building used for? Why was it built? Has it undergone any major renovations or reconstruction—if so, why? What makes this building important to the history of our town?
Take a pad of paper and a writing utensil, and (if possible) a recording device. It can be difficult to write down everything they say, and it helps if the conversation is recorded. Be polite, and send a thank-you note after the interview (a hand written, mailed card is best).

 

Scholarships and Financial Aid

www.fastweb.com
www.fafsa.ed.gov
www.finaid.org/scholarships/
www.collegepaystn.com/

Sciences

Biology: www.bbc.co.uk/sn/
Chemistry: www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/educatorsandstudents.html

 

Social Sciences

History Notes: www.enotes.com/history
AP Course Notes: www.course-notes.org/
CIA World Factbook: www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/