English: English

This page provides tips for choosing the best resources to assist with your English research. NOTE: English Language Acquisition (or ESL) is a separate guide.

RTC Learning Resource Center Writing Support

The LRCC provides a free tutoring service via ZOOM to help students succeed in their classes. There are tutors available for English and several other subjects.  If you have any questions or want more information, call (425) 235-2352 ext. 5721

Book a tutor from the LRCC

eTutoring: Free Online Tutoring is available during the fall/winter/spring quarters.  You can access RTC's FREE 24/7 online eTutoring service to get the help you need from anywhere!  Have questions? Contact the LRCC about eTutoring.

Researching Your Assignments

Broad Searches  If you want to see large amounts of information - books, journal articles, DVDs and more -  and you don’t mind looking at a few things that you might not need, use RTC's OneSearch or Advanced OneSearch.

Try OneSearch Here:

Focused Searches  When you know exactly what you need.

• If you need journal articles, click on the Articles tab above, and learn about eLibrary, ProQuest, and other databases.
• If you need books, click on the Books tab, and learn how to find books and eBooks in the RTC Library Catalog, or eBooks in the RTC databases.
• If you need web resources, click on the Web Sites tab. This page lists helpful web sites on many English topics. 

Not Finding What You Want?

• Try another way of describing your topic.  Instead of "car" try "automobile". Instead of "movie" try "motion picture".

• Think about the age of the material you need.
  • If you are researching something that is a established fact, try books or encyclopedias (found in the RTC Catalog or online in the Gale eBook encyclopedia collection), or eBooks (found in Credo Reference or the Community College eBook Collection through the RTC Library Database page). Examples of established facts include "the speeches of Franklin D. Roosevelt", or "how to write an essay".
  • If you are researching something new, try journal and newspaper articles (found in ProQuest or eLibrary on the database page.)

Need More Help?

If you're not sure what you need, or how to begin, come in to the RTC Library, call us at (425) 235-2331, or email us at librarian@RTC.edu. If it's after hours, try our reference chat service AskWA.  We'll be glad to help!