Issue Number 16 - January 2000

There's a big difference between a long coursework essay and a dissertation. In fact there are many differences. So, anybody about to embark on a dissertation for either an MA or a PhD would do well to prepare for the experience. This is a writing guide which explains the process from start to finish. Details at -

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/brause.htm

Writing skills bibliography
We have updated our popular writing skills bibliography by adding new links to reviews and articles. Several new titles have also been added in recent weeks, so if you missed it first time round, download the latest version free at --

http://www.mantex.co.uk/samples/bib1.htm

First Chapter Free
In order to allow customers to preview their books, Random House provides access to the first chapter of recently published books on their website for free.

http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/

Web Site Design Manual
This is sub-titled 'A Desktop Quick Reference' - but it's much more than that. Jennifer Niederst offers advice on all matters from plain HTML coding through to the 'new technologies' of style sheets and even XML [Extensible Markup Language] The O'Reilly 'In a Nutshell' series manage to be utterly reliable books which are both elegantly designed and amazingly good value.

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/nieder-2.htm

Secrets of Multimedia Design
Bob Hughes has worked in multimedia for the last ten years, and he is determined to do two things - spill the beans about financial disasters, and celebrate the unsung heroes of good interface design. This is a lively and entertaining account of working on CD-ROM production, kiosk programs and other projects. He scatters cultural references thick and fast, so keep on your toes. Full review at --

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/hughes-2.htm

Punctuation for Scientists
There's a persistent rumour that scientists and engineers are not very good when it comes to written style. Even worse, some people reckon they can't tell the difference between an em-dash and a semicolon. [Really! You too?] In 'Full Marks: advice on punctuation for scientific and technical writing' John Kirkman offers concise guidance on all the basics in a book which he bravely decided to fix at a low-level price. Review and full details at -

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/kirkman.htm

Plagiarism alert
The University of California is using the Internet as well as the threat of lawsuits to fight plagiarism. The US's largest university last spring began using the Plagiarism.org Web site to check the validity of papers against an online database compiled from previously written term papers, books, and journals.

The site was the idea of a Berkeley doctoral student and was put together with the help of eight other graduate students. The site allows teachers to search the database for exact matches of phrases of at least eight words. The site was tested on a neurobiology class at Berkeley, where students were required to upload their papers to the Web site. After comparing the students' papers to the online database, one in eight papers were found to contain plagiarized material. The site is now being tested at various other colleges.

(Washington Times 19/12/99)

Guidance notes - for sale and free
Cliffs Notes are now available online. You can now download the Cliffs for 'Wuthering Heights' instead of trying to find an open bookshop at 1am. It will cost you, however - the literary guides are the same price you'll pay in a bookstore. Go to --

http://www.cliffsnotes.com

Free JavaScripts
400 free JavaScripts are now available with a new script added each weekday. If you like the buttons, clocks, games, calendars, navigation aids, forms, and background effects, just cut and paste the source code into your own site; or, you can have the code emailed to you. Ronnie Moore started this service in 1996 at the age of 16. Good luck Ronnie!

http://javascript.internet.com/

Most popular article
One of our review articles is scorching ahead of all the rest in popularity on our website. It's on 'The Cathedral and the Bazaar' - a compilation of four long polemical essays which argue the case for a revolution in IT commerce. It spells out the arguments for new principles in software design. If you are interested in the Open Sources movement, free software, or the steady march of Linux, go to -

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/raymond.htm

Make your own Help files
Did you know that you can annotate your Windows Help files? Most Windows programs have a series of basic instructions and tips listed under their Help menu item. You can create your own notes and add points of clarification for future use.

1. In a Help window, choose Options + Annotate.
2. [Alternatively, try Edit + Annotate.]
3. In the Annotate dialog box, type your notes.
4. Use Delete and Backspace keys to edit.
3. When you're done, click Save.

A tiny paper clip icon appears, showing that your notes are clipped to this page of Help. Anytime you return to this Help page, just click the clip to see your notes.