Good research is the foundation of strong academic writing. Use these resources to find credible sources, cite them correctly, and build arguments that hold up under scrutiny. When in doubt about a source: ask a librarian. Research shows that students who work with a research librarian earn higher grades.
MLA Citation
- MLA Basic In-Text Citations Quick Reference Kelli's one-page PDF cheat sheet — keep it handy.
- Purdue OWL — MLA Section The gold standard for MLA formatting questions. Bookmark it.
- MLA Official Style Guide Website Straight from the source — the official MLA site.
APA Citation
- APA Basic In-Text Citations Quick Reference Kelli's one-page quick reference — especially useful for the Argument Essay.
- Purdue OWL — APA Section Comprehensive APA formatting guide. Start here when you have questions.
- APA Style — Official Website Straight from the source — the official APA site.
- EPCC Libraries This links to the libraries' main webpage with search options — but don't stop there. You can talk to a librarian and get help online 24/7, and most of our libraries are open 7 days a week. Go in and talk to a librarian in person. They are genuinely helpful, and research shows that students who work with a research librarian earn higher grades!
- Google Scholar Best for finding peer-reviewed academic papers that contain specific, verified data points from research studies. Tip: look for the "Cited by" number — higher citation counts generally signal more credibility.
🇺🇸 Primary Government Agencies (U.S.)
For the most accurate data on the U.S. population, economy, and health, turn to the federal statistical agencies. These are primary sources — data doesn't get more authoritative than this.
- U.S. Census Bureau The definitive source for demographic data. Explore interactively at data.census.gov — filter by state, county, or zip code.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Gold standard for labor market data: employment rates, inflation (CPI), and salary info. The Occupational Outlook Handbook is especially useful for career-related arguments.
- Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Official data on U.S. GDP and consumer spending.
- National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) A branch of the CDC — tracks births, deaths, and general population health trends.
- Data.gov A massive aggregator with a searchable catalog of 250,000+ datasets from across all U.S. government branches. Good for niche or specialized government data.
🌍 Global & International Data
For cross-country comparisons and international indicators, these organizations maintain the most trusted global databases.
- World Bank Open Data Covers 2,000+ indicators including education, poverty, and infrastructure for almost every country.
- United Nations Statistics Division (UNdata) Aggregates data from member nations on human rights, trade, crime, and more.
- OECD Data Explorer Highly reliable for comparable social and economic data from developed nations.
- Eurostat Official statistical office of the EU — most useful when your argument involves European comparisons.
- CIA World Factbook Concise profiles on the history, government, and economy of 267 world entities. One of the more readable sources for quick country-level context.
🔬 Research Organizations
For public opinion, social trends, or specialized scholarly data — these are some of the most-cited nonpartisan research organizations in academic writing.
- KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) Highly respected nonpartisan source for health policy data and polling.
- Our World in Data Open-access site that visualizes progress on global problems (disease, poverty, climate). Excellent for visually compelling data to support an argument.
- Pew Research Center A highly regarded nonpartisan "fact tank" — public opinion polling and demographic research. Especially strong on social media, religion, immigration, and politics.
- Statista Compiles data from market research and official sources into easy-to-read charts. Some content requires a subscription — check if your college library provides access.