Resources

[AnneM]

I thought it might be a good idea to post our favorite places for research and any new interesting stuff we find which may be helpful.

I just found this site which has links to a lot of resources including grammar, writing styles etc.

http://www.accd.edu/sac/library/faculty ... RITING.HTM

[eek]

Hello Anne,

Thank you for that link, which I bookmarked when you posted it a few weeks ago.

I only have writing related links to share:

British/American dictionary: http://www.bg-map.com/us-uk.html
Novel writer's blog, with this link going to an entry on "Building a Successful Writer's Life": http://writeanovelfast.com/building-a-s ... %99s-life/

Can anyone recommend a fun source or site for building vocab, preferably one that requires little time? (Alas, no time for crosswords or Scrabble.)

[Antonia]

Here are a few of my favorite research sources:

Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/
US Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/
AccessMyLibrary
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/GetDayPass
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
http://www.oecd.org/home/0,3305,en_2649 ... _1,00.html

[Lysis]

For just about anything in medicine, University of Maryland (umm.edu) and University of Michigan (umich.edu I think?) have all that stuff. It's pretty comprehensive. I also like CDC.gov.

For tech, I actually like wisegeek. I like howstuffworks.com too.

[Debbi]

I like wisegeek and howstuffworks too. Also Access My Library!

For medical I also use the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com).

I sometimes look at Wikipedia to see what refences they used, but I don't trust the actual Wiki article.

Anyone know where I can find info like "how many possums are there in the US?" I looked on the US Fish and Wildlife page but couldn't find anything. Maybe I just don't know where to look.

[canywriter]

Emma, I like Bookworm - especially the classic, untimed more. Nice filler and destresses as well.

Cany

[eek]

Cany - thanks! Any particular link you use for the classic game? Or is it best to download?

Debbi - Since opossums are often categorized as pests or disease carriers rather than wildlife, try something like the CDC, or this link for government wildlife management: http://icwdm.org/agencies/default.asp
They have an "ask the expert" page, and he may be able to answer your question.

[stephanie]

A good reference page to bookmark is http://www.refdesk.com/. They've got lists of reference materials, recommended sites, daily facts etc. in addition to links to magazines and newspapers you might otherwise overlook.

Re bookworm - I too play this game (so do my kids! - they like to see the worm sweat and tremble when the burning tiles threaten). I bought it at http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-ga ... index.html

[REason]

http://www.ftc.gov.

[stephanie]

Just came across this one:

Page title: 150 Resources to Help You Write Better, Faster, and More Persuasively
Page URL: http://oedb.org/library/features/150-writing-resources

[canywriter]

Thanks for posting the bookworm link, Stephanie - I was meaning to ask my son, since he set it up for me.

Cany

[stephanie]

You're welcome, Cany - have fun! The only issue I've ever had with Bookworm is that it provides definitions for many words that I know -- and not for some that I don't know. As a fun pastime, however (and one that you can easily put away quickly, unlike a riveting book, for example), it's nice to have on hand.

[Ed]

Awhile ago, eek asked for vocab builder suggestions.

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

You can hear the word pronounced and you can try to beat your best level.

Ed

[eek]

Love it, Ed. I'm hooked. I like that missed words are repeated after awhile. I remember those better than the new words I guess correctly.

[Ed]

I like that feature, too.