Writing and Research books from the library
A few exemplary titles on research and writing are noted here; the library has many more!
Not near campus? Students living in Ohio can have books delivered to a college campus near you.
Useful Capture Tools
- EvernoteEvernote is a free tool that can manage all the pieces of information important in your life, such as photos, notes, scanned images, screenshots, etc. Has a web version, a software version, and an iPod/iPhone version.
- JingJing is a free tool that allows you to capture an image from your screen or a video action from your screen, mark it up with highlights, etc, and easily share it from your computer clipboard or Screencast.com
- NoteTabFace it: sometimes you don't need MS Word to manage some simple text, and Notepad just doesn't cut it. Enter NoteTab, a robust text editor with more features then you will ever need.
Find Images and Clip Art
If you're looking for graphics / images / illustrations for an assignment, you might want to use these image search engines.
Remember, if you use someone else’s graphic, you have to cite the source!
- Video and Images databases available through BGSU LibrariesList of video and image databases from BGSU Libraries
- BGSU LibGuide to finding and using images for research and instructionFinding and Using Images for Research and Instruction
- Flickr: Creative CommonsAn alternative to full copyright. Use photographs under a Creative Commons license. Most educational uses for these photographs covered.
- Yahoo! Image SearchYahoo! Image Search.
- Google ImagesGoogle Image Search
- Dogpile Web SearchDogPile Image Search
- Proteus Image Search - Search Remote Graphic Databases on the WebImage Search by Proteus
Tech Writing Blogs
- The Content WranglerScott Abel is The Content Wrangler
- I'd Rather Be Writing"I'd Rather Be Writing" is a reference to the fact that tech writers do little "writing" these days, and a lot more wrangling with technology. By Tom Johnson.
- Future Changes | Grow Your WikiA blog by Stewart Mader. His focus is on technology, especially wikis.
- Techwr-LTechwr-L is an Internet-based community and resource for technical communicators worldwide. The Techwr-L blog is a good general technical writing blog.
- HelpScribeA technical Writing Blog maintained by Craig Haiss, a technical writer in the financial software industry.
- The Technical Writer Blog: Helping others to write quality technical communication and documentationThis is a blog maintained by a technical writer in Canada.
- ffeathers—a technical writer's blogThis is a blog about technical writing by Sarah Maddox, a technical writer.
- justwriteclickThis is a blog and Web site by writer Anne Gentle.
- The Agile Technical Writer: Technical writing and Agile methodology blogA blog maintained by Diana Ost that includes interesting stories about her experiences as an Agile technical writer.
- UAX (User Assistance Experience): Explorations of how we deliver information to usersA blog maintained by Michael Hughes that focuses on designing user interfaces that accommodate the user as learner.
- Technical Communication CenterTechnical Writing & Communication Tips, Trends & Tutorials by Ugur Akinci, Ph.D.
- Google ReaderUse Google Reader to aggregate your favorite blogs and RSS feeds into one place.
Tech Writing Podcasts
- I'd Rather Be WritingA podcast about the latest trends and practices in technical communication.
- Writing BitesBite sized writing tips. 5 minutes, 5 tips, with a focus on business writing. From Confident Writing Coach Joanna Young.
- COMM-330 Texas A&M UniversityA non-technical survey about how modern technologies affect human communication.
Webcasting
- Technical Communication - How to Use Webcasts and Webinars in Your Technical Writing JobUgur Akinci writes about webcasting
Finding Quick Statistics and Fast Facts
- American Fact FinderThe Census Bureau's premier online data delivery tool, providing the ability to view or download data from the Censuses: annual population estimates, the Economic Census, and more.
- CQ ResearcherClick the Connect button to enter this database of current issues in the news.
- ReferenceUSAA company directory with information on over 14 million businesses, public and private. Can be searched for by name, business activity, size, annual sales, location and more.
- Merriam-Webster OnlineOnline dictionary and thesaurus.
- Funk & Wagnall's New World EncyclopediaMore than 25,000 encyclopedia entries covering a wide array of topics.
- Acronym FinderFind out what any acronym, abbreviation, or initialism stands for.
Software Help
The following Web sites provide assistance with specific applications commonly used in technical writing.
- Making the Most of Word in Your Business—Shauna KelleyThis site is helpful for researching problems that writers may have with Microsoft Word and finding better ways of using Microsoft Word.
- The Word MVP SiteWeb site about Microsoft Word that is helpful for researching issues and problems with Word.
- My Author-itThis web site is focused on Author-it, an authoring and content management application. This is not the official Author-it site, but focuses on feedback on beta testing for future versions of the product and answers to Author-it problems that do not appear in the regular Author-it help.
Credits
Much of the information on this page courtesy of UAHuntsville Library, with permission.