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America: History & Life with Full Text is the definitive index of literature covering the history and culture of the United States and Canada, from prehistory to the present. With indexing for 1,800 journals, full-text for 200 journals, and 80 ebooks this database is the most important bibliographic reference tool for students and scholars of U.S. and Canadian history. Strong English-language journal coverage is balanced by an international perspective on topics and events, including abstracts in English of articles published in more than 40 languages.
Government documents can be a great source of information, including archival or primary sources.
Use the OSU Libraries' guide to Government Information to identify congressional publications (hearings, serial set, house/senate reports and documents, etc.) from 1789 to the present. Once you have identified them, then find the full text in print, microfiche, or online depending on availability. gives an overview of government publications and how to get them.
General Help
The OSU Center for Writing and Learning offers free help with any writing task at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming and organization to questions of grammar and usage, and it is open to all OSU students. Call (541) 737-5640 for an appointment. Students may also submit their work-in-progress to the Center's Online Writing Lab. Purdue University and the University of Toronto each host excellent on-line guides to academic writing, covering a wide range of questions and problems:
Proper Style and Citations
If you are using the Chicago Manual of Style it is located in the Valley Library at call no. Z253.U69 2003. Some information is also on-line:
Grammar
Perhaps the best short guide to grammar-all you probably need to know in a half-hour's reading-can be found in William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, available in the Valley Library at call no. PE1408.S73 1972 and PE1408.S772 1979a. You can find an online version of the first, 1918 edition of this classic text. There are many other on-line grammar guides; two especially strong ones are:
121 The Valley Library
Corvallis OR 97331–4501
Phone: 541-737-3331