Cite Your Sources

FAQ About Citation

What is NoodleTools? 

NoodleTools is a research management platform that can help you create, format, and manage citations; take notes; and organize your research into an outline and finished product. It supports collaboration with teachers and classmates and is integrated with Google apps and most of our research databases. All APS students and teachers have access to NoodleTools for research and citation.

How do I get started with NoodleTools? 

Getting started is easy with your school Google account: 

• Go to NoodleTools.com and click on Log In

• Choose Sign In / Register with ... Google and be sure to use your school account

• If you are registering for the first time it will ask a few questions

For more info, go to the NoodleTools Quick Guide for Students or NoodleTools Quick Guide for Librarians & Teachers.

Why should I cite my sources?

So you aren't accused of plagiarism, for one thing. But acknowledging other people's words and ideas also shows the reader that you have conducted thorough background research on your topic, increasing your credibility and persuasive power. Other people's ideas can be used to reinforce your arguments, or as points to argue against. 

What citation style do we use at AHS? 

With limited exceptions, research papers at Arlington High School are written in the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. These resources will help you cite your sources and avoid plagiarism. 

Where else can I go for help with citations? 

Read more about Citing Sources in the AHS Research Handbook (coming soon!). 

The MLA Formatting and Style Guide from the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University is a comprehensive source for explanations, examples, and exercises. 

The MLA Style Center from the Modern Language Association (MLA) has several guides for getting started and the searchable Q&A in Ask the MLA is fantastic. 

Are there shortcuts to easy and accurate citations?

Actually, yes. Nearly all of our research databases provide ready-made citations for your convenience. All you need to do is copy and paste them into your works cited page, check them for errors, and you're done! Look for these citations at the bottom of articles ... it's just another way our research databases make life easy. Many even support exporting directly into a NoodleTools project.