a Piece of conversation between You (user) and Me (CHEM Librarian)
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You: Can I use the information I got from Google, or a web directly in my writing assignment?
Me: Yes and No.
Yes, because there are a lot of good web sites created and maintained by chemistry researchers and scientists, which are in good quality and current, so if your referred web site is in this category, you can use the information.
BUT later in your study and research you still need to find the authoritative information to re-confirm it. The authoritative information may be from scholarly journals (aka. peered review journal), proceedings from well-known conferences in your research and study fields. etc. So overall speaking NO.
Also USC has a very high academic standard for students. It is critical for you to use the authoritative information in your research and CITE IT RIGHT!
USC Academic Writing Support
- USC Writing Center
- Many writing services provided by the Center
- APA and MLA guidelines
- The Center for Academic Support
- USC Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism
- Science and Technical Writing Support
- Books at Sci&Eng Library (if the link is not working, please search “technical writing” in the Subject)
- Writing Styles & Manuals at USC Libraries (if the link is not working, please search “Manuals of Style” in the Subject)
Reference Management Software
Free Software
- RefWorks at USC: free to all USC users; web-based
- Zotero: free to everyone (open sources software); Firefox extension (installation to individual computer required)
- Connotea: free to everyone (open sources software); web-based (individual accounts required)
- Publish or Perish
Paid Software *Price at USC Bookstore (ISI RESEARCHSOFT)
- EndNote: support both Windows and Mac
- ProCite: support Windows ONLY
- Reference Manager: support Windows ONLY
References Style Guidelines
- APA Style for Citing Electronic Resources
- ACM Style Guide (computer science)
- ACS Style guide (chemistry)
- USC Libraries has printed version of it on Science and Engineering Library (call number: QD8.5.A25 2006)
- ONLINE: Manuscript templates (for ACS journals)
- AIP (American Institute of Physics) AIP Style Manual
- AMS Author Packages for Publishing with the AMS
- ASA (American Society of Agronomy) ASA Style Manual
- ASABE: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
- ASCE: Writing Style
- ASME: Mechanical Engineering
- Scientific Style and Format: the CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers
- 2007 IEEE Standards Style Manual
- University of Toronto IEEE Style
- IEEE Computer Society, ” IEEE Computer Society Style Guide,” Nov. 2004;
- The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., ” IEEE Transactions, Journals, and Letters: Information for Authors,” Jan. 2003;
- ONLINE (PDF): IEEE Transactions, journals, and letters: Information for Authors
- MLA Style: Documenting Sources from the World Wide Web
-
National Library of Medicine Recommended Formats for Bibliographic Citation
- The Chicago Manual of Style
- USC Libraries have printed version of it. Please check the catalog and find the library close to you.
