This guide explains the importance of citing sources and provides guidance on how to create citations in MLA, APA, CSE, and Chicago styles. Use the appropriate tab to learn how to create citations in that specific style.
Why Cite:
A citation acknowledges any source that has directly influenced your language, ideas, or arguments. It is your responsibility to acknowledge other researchers and their ideas. By Citing sources, you show your readers that you have done proper research and you are a responsible scholar.
This practice not only gives credit to the original author, but it also allows your readers to trace ideas back to their original research and understand the context of your argument.
Choosing a Citation Style:
The citation style sometimes depends on the academic discipline involved. Typically,
Please consult with your professor to determine what citation style is required in your specific course.
Citation: A citation is a reference to a book, article, video, website, or other information source for the purpose of giving credit to the author. Citations also give more credibility to your work because your readers can find out exactly where you got the information. This practice not only gives credit to the original author, but it also allows your readers to trace ideas back to their original research and understand the context of your argument.
Citation Style: A citation style is a set of formatting rules that help you to create a citation. The style that you choose (MLA, APA, or CSE, for example) generally depends on the academic discipline involved.
MLA (Modern Language Association) citation style: A format most commonly used within the liberal arts and humanities disciplines. It requires both In-text citations and a Works Cited Page. In-text citations are short cross-references to a Works Cited page, which appears at the end of your paper.
APA: (American Psychological Association) citation style: A format most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences disciplines. It requires both In-text citations and a Reference List. In-Text citations are short cross- references to the Reference List, which appears at the end of your paper.
The CSE (Council of Science Editors) citation style: A format commonly used in biology and other science subjects. Science classes at Montgomery College typically use the CSE Citation Sequence System.
Citation Managers: Tools that allow you to collect, organize, and format your references. Citation managers can save time when you are working on longer papers or capstone projects.
Plagiarism: Intentionally or unintentionally using the words or ideas of others without acknowledging the original source.
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