Writing Help:

• Writing Guidance

• Citation Generators

• Research Methodology

• Copyright & Fair Use

The educated and experienced Library staff at the CRC are available to help you with your writing projects and papers.  Please contact us or stop by during business hours to ask for assistance.

The links below will direct you to several popular and esteemed sites and guides that can provide immediate online help.

Writing Guidance:

***Remember, your instructor's directions always take precedence.***

• Professional Writing: The Command and General Staff College
  Writing Guide: This guide aims to help CGSC students, or anyone who wants to write well, improve their writing skills.

• Effective Writing Workshop - The United States Army War College: The main purpose of this site is to provide War College students, graduates, other military personnel with tools for improving their writing skills. 

• The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University: A premier site for writing assistance, including formatting, citations, endnotes/footnotes, and other indispensable advice.

  • OWL - Citations

  • OWL - Avoiding Plagiarism/Style Guide

• Turabian Tip Sheets: An outline of Turabian formatting based on the University of Chicago's Manual for Writers.

• Writers Reference Center: You need to be registered with AULS.

Citation Generators:

Not sure how to cite your sources?  New to Turabian/Chicago, APA, MLA, or other formatting styles? Try one of these online guides:

• Citation Machine

• EasyBib

Research Methodology:

This document was created by the CRC to help you by detailing a specific process that breaks down research into basic elements and applies a simple method that facilitates the writing process.

• Learn the Research Process & Apply a Methodology

Copyright & Fair Use:

The purpose of this section is to provide and basic copyright information and guidance along with references and tools concerning copyright laws and regulations. Please note that Cyber Research Center personnel cannot provide legal advice or interpretation of copyright law; however, we can forward your questions to someone, such as the local Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, for assistance.

• References:

  • Circular 1, Copyright Basics

  • Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians (Circular 21 from the U.S. Copyright Office)

  • Circular 92, Copyright Law of the United States and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code, DEC 2016, §102, §107, and §10

  • Army Regulation 25-30, Army Publishing Program, 14 JUL 2021, Section 2-9, Copyright Material

  • Army Regulation 27-60, Intellectual Property, 1 JUN 1993, Sections 4-1 to 4-6

  • DA Pamphlet 25-40, Army Publishing Program Procedures, 14 JUN 2021, Section 2-7, Using Copyrighted Material

  • TRADOC Regulation 350-70, Army Learning Policy and Systems, 10 July 2017, Section B-5, Copyright Materials Requirements

• Resources and Tools:

  • Military/Government Copyright Resources

    • U.S. Copyright Office

    • Dudley Knox Library, Naval Post Graduate School

    • United States Army NCO Leadership Center of Excellence

• • Academic and Professional Copyright Resources

    • American Library Association, Copyright Tools

    • 10 Big Myths about copyright explained

    • University of Texas Libraries, Copyright Crash Course

    • Copyright Advisory Network, American Library Association Office for Information Technology Policy

    • Cornell University Library, Copyright

    • The Catholic University of America, Office of General Counsel

• • Fair Use Resources

    • Section 107 – Fair Use

    • Fair Use Evaluator – will “help you better understand how to determine the ‘fairness’ of a use under the U.S. Copyright Code”

    • Exceptions for Instructors - “this tool can also help you collect information detailing your educational use”

    • Fair Use Checklist - produced by the Copyright Advisory Office at Columbia University

    • Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for Teachers - produced by the University of California

    • San Jose State University Library, Copyright and Fair Use

• Copyright Videos:

  • Copyright Basics: Crash Course Intellectual Property # 2

  • Copyright, Exceptions, and Fair  Use: Crash Course Intellectual Property #3

DA Policy.  It is DA policy to recognize the rights of copyright owners consistent with the Army’s unique mission and worldwide commitments. As a general rule, copyrighted works will not be reproduced, distributed, or performed without the permission of the copyright owner.

Proponent responsibility. Proponents are responsible for ensuring that the material published in printed works or in electronic formats and links to online resources conform to the statutory copyright laws and regulatory Army policy and guidance outlined in the references.

Liability for copyright infringement. In addition, to potential adverse administrative or punitive action against a proponent, the U.S. Government may be sued, and may be required to pay damages for copyright infringement.

Legal review. Local intellectual property legal counsel will review requests for copyright releases and for “fair use” determinations. Use of copyrighted material without the permission of the owner requires a written legal opinion. The local intellectual property legal counsel will consult with the Regulatory Law and Intellectual Property Division of the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, as needed, in preparation of written legal opinions.