Learn four common tools that will make citing resources much easier: the library catalog, library databases, Google Scholar, and Zotero. Additional info is available on the Why Cite Sources page.
Why you should cite sources?
When you conduct research for your papers and projects, you always need to cite your sources. To cite means you are pointing readers to the evidence. You need to show where you found the information you compiled in your projects.
It does not matter what type of source it is. It can be in print or online. It can be an image or a conversation.
Examples: table of data, journal or newspaper article, chart, graph, book, diagram, course lectures, emails, phone conversations, conference papers, blogs, wikis… We could go on, but you get the idea.
When to cite?
Quoting and paraphrasing are two important concepts when you are writing a research paper. You need to cite every time you quote any source. You also need to cite whenever you paraphrase a source.
Why do I need to cite?
Where to cite?
There are three places where you can cite your sources:
Your list of sources at the end of your paper might also be called a Bibliography, Works Cited List, or Reference Sources.
What are Style Manuals?
Style Manuals (sometimes called Style Guides) tell you where and how to properly and consistently cite your sources. For example, they will tell you how multiple co-authors should be arranged or abbreviated; whether the title of an article should be either italicized or underlined.
The library provides copies of different Style Manuals, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago. Ask your instructor which Style Guide to use.