Homework Help for Teens
Admit it, school’s not that bad. There’s lunch, where you can sit with your friends and talk about whatever. There’s a study hall, where you can do anything but. Plus, you don’t have to go for 12 weeks each year. Then, here’s the dreaded homework, projects, and exams. Don’t worry! Look here for things to make the hard school stuff more like study hall.
CURRENT EVENTS
Breaking U.S. and world news
Questions and answers about criminal justice
Trends, statistics, and polls on current topics including technology
ENGLISH & LITERATURE
Bartleby: English Usage, Style & Composition
A full-text version of William Strunk's The Elements of Style and other helpful grammar books.
A full-text version of William Strunk's The Elements of Style and other helpful grammar books.
Book Rags
Book summaries and discussion questions on contemporary classics that your teachers may be assigned such as "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett and "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri.
Book summaries and discussion questions on contemporary classics that your teachers may be assigned such as "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett and "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri.
Dictionary.com
Searchable dictionary, thesaurus, and quotes.
Searchable dictionary, thesaurus, and quotes.
Definitions of common literary terms
Guide to Grammar and Writing
An exhaustive searchable database with help on grammar and writing. Includes everything from adverbs to a thesis statement.
An exhaustive searchable database with help on grammar and writing. Includes everything from adverbs to a thesis statement.
Quick and clear video explanation for structuring your essays
OWL: Online Writing Lab
This is a good place to begin when you have a writing assignment. This site from Purdue University also helps with poetry and citations. Look here if you are interested in practicing college-level writing skills as well. (ooh, scary!)
This is a good place to begin when you have a writing assignment. This site from Purdue University also helps with poetry and citations. Look here if you are interested in practicing college-level writing skills as well. (ooh, scary!)
OWL: MLA 2009 Formatting and Style Guide
A trusted place for instruction on how to cite MLA style.
A trusted place for instruction on how to cite MLA style.
Poetry information and webcasts
Poetry 180: A poem a day for American High Schools
This site offers poems to read each day of school. Better yet, it teaches you HOW to read a poem out loud. This site is from the Library of Congress and your teachers may be interested in sharing a poem from the site each day as part of your classwork.
This site offers poems to read each day of school. Better yet, it teaches you HOW to read a poem out loud. This site is from the Library of Congress and your teachers may be interested in sharing a poem from the site each day as part of your classwork.
Poets.org
Information on poets and poetry and includes audio samples of the poetry.
Information on poets and poetry and includes audio samples of the poetry.
Shmoop
Shmoop is a cool database for teenagers. Check out what they have to offer in the Literature, Poetry, Shakespeare, or Mythology tabs for everything regarding your English homework, then browse around on the other tabs just for fun (and I mean fun, some articles use a music video posted to reinforce topic ideas).
Shmoop is a cool database for teenagers. Check out what they have to offer in the Literature, Poetry, Shakespeare, or Mythology tabs for everything regarding your English homework, then browse around on the other tabs just for fun (and I mean fun, some articles use a music video posted to reinforce topic ideas).
Free online study guides for many assigned titles old and new. Just don’t forget to cite them as a source. Yes, your teacher can tell if you don’t read the book.
Information about poets and their works including audio clips
Performance poetry for teens
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
You must sign in with either your email address and create a password or you can connect with Facebook and share your progress with your friends or classmates. Includes online courses and message boards to connect with others learning languages.
BBC: Languages
This site is has a good video section for advanced learners.
This site is has a good video section for advanced learners.
iforeignlanguage
The author of this site has down-to-earth advice on how to study any language.
The author of this site has down-to-earth advice on how to study any language.
Free audio and video Japanese lessons.
Extensive free Spanish lessons with audio examples.
Linguanet Worldwide
This site allows you to test your proficiency level in any language.
This site allows you to test your proficiency level in any language.
Pronunciator provides both guided and self‐directed instruction for 80 foreign languages, and ESL for 50 non‐English languages, along with a Course Designer which allows for the creation and deployment of custom courses by educators.
This site offers free tutorials and audio clips to enhance your Spanish-speaking abilities.
Explore this rich site and learn multiple foreign languages, which includes audio clips to enhance your speaking abilities.
World Book in Spanish
Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos en Linea.
Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos en Linea.
YourDictionary
This site links to websites for over 260 languages (more advanced than just your basic language dictionary).
This site links to websites for over 260 languages (more advanced than just your basic language dictionary).
HISTORY & SOCIAL STUDIES
ARKANSAS HISTORY
Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture
Information on all aspects of the state’s history and culture.
Information on all aspects of the state’s history and culture.
BLACK HISTORY
Biographical information on influential African Americans
America's journey through slavery presented by PBS
Multimedia look into the Harlem Renaissance
CIVICS
Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government
"How a Bill Becomes a Law" and other important functions of our government.
"How a Bill Becomes a Law" and other important functions of our government.
Information about candidates and ballot issues
Explanation and history of the electoral college
Biographical and procedural information for the Supreme Court of the United States
Current information on the executive branch of government
GENERAL
Search over 25,000 biographies of well-known people, many entries include multimedia features.
Biographical Dictionary
Need to know a historical figure who was born today? This database has brief articles (most with pictures) on over 28,000 people and is searchable.
Need to know a historical figure who was born today? This database has brief articles (most with pictures) on over 28,000 people and is searchable.
Information-rich in visual media content from the History Channel
History on PBS
Full videos of episodes on history topics from Public Broadcasting System television stations across the country.
Full videos of episodes on history topics from Public Broadcasting System television stations across the country.
Large collection of primary documents and an extensive and carefully chosen list of online history resources
Solid basic biographical information from the InfoPlease Almanac.
U.S. HISTORY
Explore American History with hands-on activities, exhibits, lessons, historic documents, and artifacts.
Watch episodes online covering many key events in US History
Materials about the historic places, people, events, and ideas that make America
Information on notable women in many different fields
Study guides for major topics in American history
WORLD HISTORY
Interactive timeline and other extensive information on British history
Electronic versions of key documents in European history
Timelines and histories of a variety of nations and peoples
Articles about key historical events from around the world
GEOGRAPHY
Explore the people and culture of the many nations of Africa
Travel information and interesting facts about destinations all over the world
Basic facts and maps plus many entries include features, photos, and video
Federal exchange program to build understanding between Americans and people in countries with large Muslim populations
MATHEMATICS
BASIC MATH
FactMonster Homework Center: Mathematics
Math homework help includes help with fractions, conversions, formulas, and more.
Math homework help includes help with fractions, conversions, formulas, and more.
Ten steps that really will help you improve your math grade, many of them work for other subjects as well.
WebMath
Help with math questions.
Help with math questions.
ALGEBRA
Lessons and worksheets to help you understand and practice your math homework.
Free video blackboard explanations of algebra topics.
Sometimes a different explanation from your textbook can help. Purple Math has clear lessons on most major algebra topics.
GEOMETRY
Reviews the basic terms and concepts
Illustrated definitions of terms used in geometry
Basic geometry lessons
Explanations of many common geometry calculations
MUSIC
Artist information and discographies for all types of music
Information on a wide variety of musical instruments
Lessons on music theory basics and beyond
The influence and meaning behind the important songs in popular music
MYTHOLOGY
Encyclopedia of mythology, folklore, and religion
49 annotated fairy tales, including their histories, similar tales across cultures, modern interpretations, and illustrations
Exploring Greek mythology and the gods in classical literature and art
Not all myths are ancient, get the facts on urban legends
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE
COLLEGE SEARCHING
College Navigator
From the National Center for Education Statistics, you can plug in your college selection criteria into their search engine and it will bring you results of colleges that may be right for you.
From the National Center for Education Statistics, you can plug in your college selection criteria into their search engine and it will bring you results of colleges that may be right for you.
How to Choose a College that is Right For You
An article from NPR on what is the best criteria for choosing a college.
An article from NPR on what is the best criteria for choosing a college.
Peterson's College Search
Featured colleges, articles on top colleges, and other information about the college search.
Featured colleges, articles on top colleges, and other information about the college search.
STANDARDIZED TESTS
ACT
The student site for ACT test-takers.
The student site for ACT test-takers.
Offers GED, ACT, SAT, ASVAB, graduate school exam, and U.S. Citizenship study aids alongside help with career search, computer skills, and more! Also available in Spanish.
PSAT
This test is given at your high school.
This test is given at your high school.
SAT
Collegeboard's site for the most widely used college admission test.
Collegeboard's site for the most widely used college admission test.
TOEFL
The exam for English as a second language speakers.
The exam for English as a second language speakers.
FUNDING
College and Careers @ Your Library
This site has lots of help on how to pay for college. It walks you through the loan process and grants application process.
This site has lots of help on how to pay for college. It walks you through the loan process and grants application process.
Financial aid from the government (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is where to go for government aid for college.
The FAFSA is where to go for government aid for college.
Grants
A database for free college grants money.
A database for free college grants money.
Scholarships
Allows you to plug in search criteria for scholarships that you could be eligible for.
Allows you to plug in search criteria for scholarships that you could be eligible for.
Tuition Funding Sources: Tuition Funding Sources is a private website designed to help students find scholarships, college, and career information. TFS offers students the largest scholarship database in the world with over $41 Billion in scholarship awards along with a career personality test and detailed college and career information.
RESEARCH
Internet Public Library: Research and Writing
This site walks you through the research paper process, from choosing a topic and gathering information, to everything about writing the paper, including the thesis and citing sources.
This site walks you through the research paper process, from choosing a topic and gathering information, to everything about writing the paper, including the thesis and citing sources.
Check here for the journals, newspapers, biography and literature sources, statistics, history, and more among our electronic databases.
RefDesk.com
A virtual librarian reference desk where you can ask questions and learn about any topic.
A virtual librarian reference desk where you can ask questions and learn about any topic.
Virtual Reference Shelf
Another virtual reference desk where you can ask those questions you might be afraid to in person.
Another virtual reference desk where you can ask those questions you might be afraid to in person.
World Book
Encyclopedia, multimedia, e-book, and primary source databases.
Encyclopedia, multimedia, e-book, and primary source databases.
SCIENCE
BIOLOGY
Biological information for thousands of animal species including habitat and scientific classification
Cells Alive!
This site includes everything you need to know regarding cells, both plant, and animal. It has great animations of the phases of cell mitosis and meiosis as well as camera images of cancer cells growing.
This site includes everything you need to know regarding cells, both plant, and animal. It has great animations of the phases of cell mitosis and meiosis as well as camera images of cancer cells growing.
Clear and helpful information on genes and cells including interactive and video features
PLoS Biology
This is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal for science articles, many are full text.
This is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal for science articles, many are full text.
Take a virtual look through the brain, heart, skeleton, and digestive tract in English or Spanish
CHEMISTRY
Easy to understand chemistry explanations
Information about the elements including properties and compounds
General Chemistry Online
For first-year chemistry students, this Frostburg State University site gives a general overview of basic chemistry and allows you to quiz yourself.
For first-year chemistry students, this Frostburg State University site gives a general overview of basic chemistry and allows you to quiz yourself.
Chemistry study guide
The chemicals behind common items like silly string and nail polish
High-quality tutorials on a variety of chemistry subjects
GENERAL
HippoCampus
Virtual classroom with videos teaching several subjects including biology, chemistry, and other sciences.
Virtual classroom with videos teaching several subjects including biology, chemistry, and other sciences.
Short biographies of many influential inventors
Science Daily
A research news magazine on science.
A research news magazine on science.
PHYSICS
Handpicked database of physics sites that have been checked for accuracy
Physics study guide
Understand the fundamentals of physics
The Physics Classroom Tutorial
Included here you will find practice problem sets for solving and other help on physics concepts.
Included here you will find practice problem sets for solving and other help on physics concepts.
VISUAL ARTS
Large collection of art information links searchable by artist name, name of work, and museum name
A chronological, geographical, and thematic exploration of the history of art from around the world, as illustrated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Online exhibits and activities designed for students on a variety of art topics
A virtual museum and searchable database of European painting and sculpture from the 11th to mid-19th centuries
WORLD RELIGIONS
Overview of major world religions
Searchable online Bible.
Catholic information and news, including information on saints
Text from a variety of world religions. Includes alternative religions.
Frequently asked questions about Judaism
Information on world religions including sources for further information
