Style Guides

For more on citing sources see How to Cite

• • MLA Handout (PDF File) or (Word) – 9th Edition
  • APA–  7th edition (Word)
  • Chicago
  • ASA  – 7th edition    

Top Research Guides

• • L Building Map (1st Floor and 2nd floor)
  • Library Basics 2014 (Word File)
  • The Research Process(PDF File)
  • Plagiarism Brochure (PDF File)
  • Developing a Research Topic and Identifying keywords (PowerPoint File)
  • Library Vocabulary (PDF)

Searching the Library Databases

• • Article Database Tutorials (HTML)
  • COA Library Tutorial: Searchpath

Developing a Thesis Statement or Research Question

• • Information Literacy Puzzle
  • The Research Process – Seattle Central College
  • Picking Your Topic IS Research!  – North Carolina State University (Flash)
  • Research is a Conversation — University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Flash)
  • It’s All About the Questions — Oklahoma State University (Video)

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources

• • What is a Primary Source? (NCSU Libraries)
  • Understanding Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources (UC Merced)

Scholarly & Popular Periodicals

• • Scholarly vs. Popular Magazines (PDF File)
  • Peer Review — North Carolina State University (Flash)
  • Scholarly Articles — SUNY, Albany (Video)

Evaluating Information

• • Evaluation of Sources (PDF File)
  • Who Do You Trust and Why? — Oklahoma State University (Video)
  • How to Spot Fake News –FactCheck.org (Video)
  • Evaluating Health Information – National Library of Medicine (HTML)
  • Safiya Noble | Challenging the Algorithms of Oppression (Video)

Call Numbers

• • How to Read a Call Number – University of Arkansas (Video)

Information Literacy

• • Introduction to College Research – OER Textbook (scroll down for links to content)
  • Los Rios Libraries Information Literacy Tutorials – Canvas modules in the Commons

Title Lists

• • LGBTQ+ History Month Title List – October 2021
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Title List – January 17, 2022
  • Black History Month Title List – Feb. 2022
  • Women’s History Month Title List – March 2022
  • Cesar Chavez Day Title List – March 31, 2022
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Title List – May 2022

Research-based Writing Resources

• • Evidence Interpretation and Analysis Log

Library Archive

• • The Reporter –  College of Alameda Newspaper – Archive (Contact the Periodicals Department for more information)
  • Fiset Guitar Collection – Finding Aid