How do I cite sources?

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This page will answer the following questions:

• How do I avoid plagiarism?
• How do I cite sources?
• How do I cite web pages?

First know what plagiarism is. It is the (intentional or unintentional) use of someone else's words or ideas, without giving them credit. It is serious. It can be grounds for failure of a course. It is also a big mistake. A research paper should show off that you have found sources, not hide them.

Second, careful note taking will solve many plagiarism problems. Make sure that you write down the citation information before you being taking notes on any source. This will keep you from having to track down sources you have already returned to the library the day before your paper is due. Also, be careful to indicate in your notes when you are directly quoting from your sources, when you are summarizing your source, and when you are responding to your source.

Third, make sure to put citations in the early drafts so you can get feedback on them before the final draft.

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The guides will show you how to cite most sources, including books, articles, interviews, pamphlets, and internet sites.

The Modern Language Association's (MLA's) Citation Style -- MLA style is most commonly used in papers for English and Humanities courses.

The American Psychological Association's (APA's) Citation Style -- APA style is most commonly used in papers for Social Science courses.

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How do I cite web pages?

While the rules for how to cite sources like books and newspaper articles have been set for a long time, the rules for how to cite online sources are still developing. In addition to the two sources above, these web sites can help you with how to cite online sources.

The Columbia Guide to Online Style by Janice R. Walker and Todd Taylor -- This site is essentially an extended advertisement for the book with this title. However, it does review the basics of the relatively new conventions for citing online sources in MLA and APA format.

Citing Cyberspace by James D. Lester -- This site more fully discusses how to cite online sources than the Columbia site. It also has two chapters on how to find internet sources for your research paper in the first place.

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