Citing Your Sources

Why Cite?

• Academic Integrity: Give credit to the original authors and avoid plagiarism.

• Credibility: Strengthen your arguments by referencing reliable sources.

• Research Trail: Help others follow your research process.

Citation Styles

1. MLA (Modern Language Association):

   • Commonly used in humanities.

   • MLA Formatting and Style Guide

2. APA (American Psychological Association):

   • Commonly used in social sciences.

   • APA Formatting and Style Guide

3. Chicago/Turabian:

   • Used in history and some social sciences.

   • Chicago Manual of Style Online

Citation Tools 

• Citation Tools

  • • Zotero.org

      • Free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share research.

      • Zotero Quick Start Guide

    • EasyBib:

      • Online tool for creating citations in various styles.

      • EasyBib Citation Generator

    • BibMe:

      • Automatic bibliography maker that auto-fills.

      • BibMe Citation Generator

  • How to Cite Different Sources

    • Books:

      • Author(s). Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

      • Example: Smith, John. The Art of Research. Academic Press, 2020.

    • Journal Articles:

      • Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, Year, pages.

      • Example: Doe, Jane. “Innovative Research Methods.” Journal of Research, vol. 15, no. 3, 2021, pp. 45-67.

    • Websites:

      • Author(s). “Title of Web Page.” Title of Website, Publisher, Date of Publication, URL.

      • Example: Johnson, Emily. “How to Cite Sources.” Citation Guide, University Library, 2023, www.citationguide.com.

Tutorial Resources 

These OWL resources will help you learn how to use the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation and format style. This section contains resources on in-text citations and Works Cited pages, as well as MLA sample papers, slide presentations, and the MLA classroom poster. 

How to Cite MLA 

These OWL resources will help you learn how to use the American Psychological Association (APA) citation and format style. This section contains resources on in-text citation and the References page, as well as APA sample papers, slide presentations, and the APA classroom poster. 

How to CIte APA 

Printable Guides 

• • • Guides:

      • MLA Citation Guide (PDF)           

      • Walk-Through of OWL Purdue's Works Cited, In-text Citation, and MLA guide

      • APA Citation Guide (PDF)

Vide Tutorials 

Creating a bibliography might seem daunting, but it’s a crucial part of any research project. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started:

Steps to Create a Bibliography:

1. Gather Your Sources: Collect all the books, articles, websites, and other materials you used for your research.

2. Choose a Citation Style: Common styles include APA, MLA, and Chicago. Check with your teacher to see which one you should use.

3. Record the Details: For each source, note down the author, title, publication date, publisher, and any other relevant information.

4. Format Your Entries: Follow the rules of your chosen citation style to format each entry correctly. This might include specific punctuation and order of information.

5. Organize Your Bibliography: List your sources alphabetically by the author’s last name.

6. Double-Check Your Work: Make sure all your entries are complete and correctly formatted.

Example (MLA Style):

• Book: Smith, John. The Art of Research. New York: Research Press, 2020.

• Article: Doe, Jane. “Understanding Bibliographies.” Journal of Research, vol. 15, no. 3, 2021, pp. 45-60.

• Website: Brown, Lisa. “How to Write a Bibliography.” Research Help, www.researchhelp.com/bibliography. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

Remember, a well-crafted bibliography not only gives credit to the original authors but also shows the depth of your research. Happy writing!