Citing Sources
When you write a research paper, you should always cite the sources you use so that the reader can locate them. It is also important that you cite your sources to help readers distinguish your ideas from those of others. In addition, by acknowledging the sources, you avoid committing plagiarism (see Avoiding plagiarism).
To help you cite sources correctly, you should use a citation style. APA, Chicago and MLA are examples of three citation styles. Every scholarly field has its preferred style. Check with your teacher if you are unsure about which citation style you should use.
Here are links to some resources that you can use if you want to learn how to use a particular style:
Citation handbooks which can be found in the library catalogue:
- The Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed.). (2010). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th ed.). (2009). New York: Modern Language Association of America.
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). (2010). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Manage Your References with Zotero
Zotero is a free citation management tool designed to help you collect, organize and cite references. You can add PDFs and other files to your references, and with a simple plugin for Word or Open Office, Zotero lets you insert citations into your paper. More information is available at zotero.org.
