Resources for writing and research

 

Writing

Citations and Reference Formats
From The ASA Style Guide, this handout is the official guide for how you will cite sources in your writings for this class. The first two pages show how to cite sources in the text (remember, sociologists don't use footnotes). The rest illustrates examples of bibliographical entries for all types of sources, from books and journal articles to websites.
The Writing Center at Vassar College
Writing Center consultants can provide feedback and offer a fresh perspective on any writing project, multimedia project, and oral presentation. They can offer one-on-one and small group consultations that address everything from brainstorming and developing ideas to crafting strong sentences and effectively using sources.
Originality and Attribution
The college's official guidelines for when/how to acknowledge secondary sources. (For specific citation formats, use the ASA Style Guide, above.)

 

Research

Business Insights
A good database for researching financial information of companies and industries.
LexisNexis Academic
Possibly the most important news/legal databases in academia. Try its "Get Company Info" and "Research People" search engines.
Who Rules America
Managed by G. William Domhoff, this website provides extended essays and up-to-date analyses of topics covered in the textbook of the same name. On the left-hand side, the "studying power" tab explains how you can conduct your own power structure research.
Fortune 500
Fortune Magazine's annual ranking of America's largest corporations is hardly the last word on who the big players in global capitalism are these days, but the label "Fortune 500" is still shorthand for "big business." Search by company name, industry, etc.

Forbes lists
Not to be left out of the list business, Forbes Magazine specializes in ranking the richest individuals overall and by field.
LittleSis
The self-proclaimed "opposite of Big Brother." When you search on the name of a business and government leader, their database gives you the list of their influential government, business, civic and personal connections.

 

Elections, PACs, etc.

Federal Elections Commission
The official source on electoral contributions to candidates and parties. Enter the name of any candidate, PAC, or individual/organizational donor to find out where the money came from.
OpenSecrets.org
The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics' website offers more information on electoral contributions, with far more interpretation and analysis than the FEC provides.
CFI: The Campaign Finance Institute
Billing itself as "the nation's pre-eminent think tank for campaign finance policy," this website specializes in analysis reports of campaign donation, PAC support, and public participation.
NewsMeat
This website aggregates all sorts of news about international politics and economics. Use the tabs at top to search by campaign donors, candidates, and the "hall of fame" of political donations made by the powerful, rich and famous.

 

 

 

 

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