Citation Help
Overview
It’s no exaggeration to say that citations are often the most tedious part of writing, so why go through the trouble? First, citations are a way for others to check that your information comes from a credible source. Second, by citing sources, you strengthen your argument. Most importantly, you should always credit others for their work.
There are several citation styles: APA, MLA, Chicago, IEEE, and ASA are the ones covered here. These styles govern citations, references, formatting, diagrams, and inclusive language, among other things. Find below several resources that will make citations more understandable for you. If in doubt, double check the instructions for your assignment, reach out to your professor, ask your librarian, access the full style manual, or make a Writing Center appointment for further clarification.
One-Stop-Shops for Citation Resources
Both the Excelsior Online Writing Lab and the SJSU Library provide resources, handouts, and videos for understanding different citation styles. Each site offers additional advice on avoiding plagiarism, locating reference information, and evaluating information.
APA (7th edition)
APA (American Psychological Association) is typically used in psychology, education, communication, and other social sciences.
Writing Center Resources
External Resources
MLA Citation Guide.pdfMLA (8th edition)
MLA (Modern Language Association) is typically used in literature, cultural studies, and other humanities fields.
Writing Center Resources
External Resources
Chicago Style
Chicago Style, also known as Turabian, is typically used in history, the fine arts, and other humanities fields. Unlike APA and MLA, Chicago style normally uses footnotes instead of in-text or parenthetical citations.
Writing Center Resources
External Resources
Chicago Citation Guide.pdfIEEE Citation Guidelines.pdfIEEE(2020 Edition)
IEEE (Institute of Electrical Electronics and Engineers) is typically used in fields such as engineering and computer science.
Writing Center Resource
External Resources
ASA
ASA (American Sociological Association) is typically used in sociology.
Writing Center Resource
External Resources
ASA General Citation Guide.pdfPlagiarism and How to Avoid It
Plagiarism--we've all heard the terrible word, but what is it really? Put simply, plagiarism is taking information from another source without acknowledging its author. This could be using their exact words without quotation marks and a citation or changing only a few words from the original. To avoid plagiarism, quote and paraphrase information. Quoting is using the author's exact words with quotation marks (" ") accompanied by a citation. Paraphrasing is putting the author's ideas into your own words while still acknowledging the author. Distinguishing between all three can be a complicated process, so take a look at the resources below to learn the differences.
Handouts and Activities
Writing Center Resource
External Resources
Plagiarism and Paraphrasing Information Handout (1).pdfThe Writing Center's YouTube channel has an array of videos on how to avoid plagiarism, integrate research material into your paper, and format your essays. Browse our YouTube channel for more helpful videos on writing related topics.