Lesson 7: How to Cite Sources
Source citations represent one of the most important aspects of a
research paper. Citations not only
lend credibility to your paper, but they also give credit to the authors from
whom you drew information. There are several ways you can cite sources, and most often
your professors will signify which type of documentation they prefer.
The three most common styles are MLA (Modern Language Association), APA
(American Psychological Association) and Turabian.
Before you are given specifics on the styles of documentation, there are
several key terms with which you should become familiar:
Plagiarism – the
act of stealing or passing off the ideas or words of another as one’s own
Citation – a
listing of the elements needed to locate a bibliographic source
Bibliography – a
list of works referred to in a text or consulted by the author in its production
(also called References or Works Cited)
Annotated bibliography – a
list of sources consulted, but including a brief paragraph that summarizes each
work
Footnote
– a note of reference, explanation or comment placed below the text on a
printed page
Endnote – a
note of reference placed at the end of a text
Examples of Citations
MLA: Book
MacDonagh, Oliver. Jane
Austen: Real and Imagined Worlds. New Haven: Yale UP, 1991.
MLA: Periodical
Fischer,
Joannie. "The Molding of the New World." U.S.
News and World Report 130 (2001): 44-8.
MLA:
Article in GALILEO
Jacobson,
Linda. “Reading, Early-Childhood Experts Seek Ways To Aid Children
At Risk.” Education Week 4
April 2001: 10-2. Academic
Search Premier. GALILEO.
Brewton-Parker College, Mount Vernon, GA. 26 June 2001. <http://www.galileo.peachnet.edu>.
MLA: Web Page
“Abraham
& Sarah.” John
Knox Presbyterian Church Home Page.
26 June 2001 <http://www.johnknox.org/abraham&.htm>.
APA: Book
MacDonagh, O. (1991). Jane Austen: Real and imagined worlds. New Haven: Yale
University.
APA: Periodical
Fischer, J. (2001). The Molding of the New
World. U.S. News and World Reports, 130, 44-48.
APA: Article in GALILEO
Jacobson,
L. (2001). Reading, Early-Childhood
Experts Seek Ways To Aid Children At Risk. Education Week , 20. Retrieved
June 26, 2001, from GALILEO (Periodical Abstracts on the World Wide Web):
http://www.galileo.peachnet.edu.
APA: Web Page
“Abraham
& Sarah.” (2000). John Knox Presbyterian Church Home Page.
26 June 2001 http://www.johnknox.org/abraham&.htm
Turabian: Book
[Footnotes or Endnotes are acceptable. Consult your professor as to his/her preference.]
Note:
Oliver
MacDonagh, Jane Austen: Real and Imagined Worlds (New Haven:
Yale University Press, 1991), page numbers.
Bibliography:
MacDonagh, Oliver. Jane Austen: Real and
Imagined Worlds. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1991.
Turabian: Periodical
Note:
Joannie
Fischer, "The Molding of the New World," U.S. News and
World Report 130 (June 2001): 44-8.
Bibliography:
Fischer, Joannie. "The Molding of the
New World." U.S. News and World Report 130 (June
2001): 44-8.
Turabian: Article in
GALILEO
Note:
Linda
Jacobson, “Reading, Early-Childhood Experts Seek Ways To Aid Children At
Risk,” Education Week 20
(April 2001): 10-12. GALILEO
[http://galileo.peachnet.edu]:
Periodical Abstracts Research.
Bibliography:
Jacobson,
Linda. “Reading, Early-Childhood Experts Seek Ways To Aid Children
At Risk.” Education Week
20 (April 2001): 10-12. GALILEO
[http://galileo.peachnet.edu]:
Periodical Abstracts Research.
Turabian: Web Page
Note:
“Abraham
& Sarah,” John
Knox Presbyterian Church Home Page
[http://www.johnknox.org/abraham&.htm],
May 4, 2000.
Bibliography:
You may now proceed to the exercise for this lesson.