Holt Library: Sociology: Research

Getting Started

How to write a thesis statement
The thesis statement is the cornerstone of your paper.

How to avoid plagiarism (a guide for students)

How to take good notes in class and in research

The research process

Student guide: persuasion
Learn how to effectively argue your position in speeches, research papers, and debates.

6-step process for writing a research paper
This guide breaks down the process from choosing a topic to conducting research to writing your final paper.

Cite sources: how to
Give credit to the sources you found.

How to create a Works Cited page
Properly compile the list of all of the sources you used in your paper.

Peer review explained in 3 minutes

NCSU Libraries: Peer Review in 3 Minutes
How do articles get peer reviewed? What role does peer review play in scholarly research and publication?

Finishing touches

LAC (Learning Assistance Center) at SCC: free tutoring

Online tutoring is provided to every student every semester.

Each SCC student is given 240 minutes of online tutoring per semester. Highly trained and qualified tutors help students to build skills, understand new material, and develop confidence as they pursue educational success.

Log in to your MySCC account. Access and use this free service by clicking on the “Tutoring” button in any Moodle course.

Writing Across the Curriculum at SCC: Student Resources
It’s a fact of life: college students write. No matter what year you graduated from high school, you’ll find that writing in college is a little different than writing in high school.
SCC Style Guide for Writing
The purpose of this style guide is to offer students and faculty members a place to easily access information about writing within an academic setting.

APA Format

APA Format and Style Guide
APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. This resource, revised according to the 6th edition, second printing of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference page. For more information, please consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, (6th ed., 2nd printing).
Purdue OWL
The online writing lab offers global support through online reference materials and services for creating citations, cover letters, major-specific writing help, and general writing advice.
Excelsior Owl (Online Writing Lab)
The Excelsior Online Writing Lab (OWL) is an award-winning online writing lab resource for writers and includes citation guide information for APA, MLA, and Chicago Style.

Research and how to do it: SHORT VIDEO

Research Companion This link opens in a new window
Video tutorial: Learn how to create a research project.

Avoiding Plagiarism Video

APA Demo

Request Research Appointment

Get Research Assistance

Need help knowing where to start your library research?

ask a Librarian for help at the Holt Library desk or
contact us to set up a one-on-one appointment.

Email: library@southwesterncc.edu
Phone: 828.339.4288