Citing Sources

 

Whenever you quote or paraphrase information in a paper, you must provide citations so your reader knows where the information came from. There are different ways to do this, for example footnotes, endnotes, within the text of the paper, and so on. The two most commonly used styles for citing sources are MLA and APA.

MLA Style

MLA style, developed by the Modern Language Association, describes rules for citing sources as well as for how papers are formatted.

Citing Online Articles from ProQuest and other online databases.
used for citing articles found online through ProQuest, Contemporary Literary Criticism, Dictionary of Literary Biography, and similar services
MLA 2009 Formatting and Style Guide
A detailed guide, from the Online Writing Center at Purdue University
MLA-style Citation
a general handout on plagiarism, quoting, paraphrasing
Quotations & Paraphrasing, MLA-style
How to effectively use and incorporate quotations in an MLA-style paper

For authoritative information on MLA style, please consult MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed., available at the Reserve (Circulation) Desk at 808.027 MLA HAN 2009. There is also a copy at the Reference Desk.


APA Style

APA style, developed by the American Psychological Association, includes rules for citing sources as well as for how papers are formatted. APA style is widely used in psychology, education, sociology, criminology, and related professions.

APA-style Citations for ProQuest etc.
used for citing articles found online through ProQuest
APA Citations
This is a list of sample entries for a "References" list; it does not address citing references in text. (PDF; requires Acrobat Reader)
APA Formatting and Style Guide
from the Online Writing Center at Purdue University, revised to conform to the 6th edition (2010)

For authoritative information on APA style, please consult Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th ed., available at 808.0661 PUBLICAT at the Library's Reserve and Reference Desks.

 


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Last modified: Tuesday, September 22, 2009.