Citing Sources
Accurately citing sources gives credit where credit is due and helps writers maintain academic integrity. Also, citing sources using the documentation style expected in your field helps your readers cross-reference sources, provides consistency within a discipline, enhances your credibility, and indicates that you're a qualified member of a discipline.
Therefore, citing sources correctly is essential. Various resources can help writers cite and organize sources:
- Citation & Style Tips -- Offer abridged guidelines for specific documentation styles.
- Citation Managers -- Help writers collect and organize resources, as well as format citations.
- Style manuals-- Provide accepted guidelines for specific documentation styles.
Citation & Style Tips
APA (6th edition, 2010) Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
--citation tips (Purdue Online Writing Lab and APA blog)
--DOI information
--sample paper with format, citation and style tips
APA (5th edition, 2001) Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
--citation tips
MLA (7th edition, 2009) Modern Language Association Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
--citation tips (Purdue OWL)
MLA (6th edition, 2003) Modern Language Association Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
--citation tips
Citation Managers
Citation managers (sometimes called reference managers or bibliographic managers) offer online storage for citation information and software to generate citations. Some citation managers are free; robust tools often require paid subscriptions. The following alphabetical list shows a few free citation managers. Note: Outside programs cannot be downloaded to campus computers.
Remember: No software program can think as well as you can. Always check a current style manual for your documentation system.
BibMe: Offers additional features with registration. Creates citations in two ways: auto-fill or using information you type in. Lets users store reference lists after creating accounts. Styles: APA, Chicago, MLA, and Turabian.
CiteULike: Requires registration via CiteULike or Facebook. Lets users add articles to personal libraries, import existing references, and share articles with other users. Styles: ACS, APA, CBE, MLA, and citation styles for select journals.
Endnote Web: Requires registration. Lets users save, edit, and organize resource information, plus import existing references. Many Tarleton library databases will export source information to EndNote Web. Styles: ACS, APA, APS, ASME, CBE, Chicago, MLA, and citation styles for multiple journals.
Zotero: Requires registration and download. Lets users import PDF files, images, audio and video files, web page snapshots, and more. Indexes file contents to enable searches. Many Tarleton library databases will export source information to Zotero. Styles: ACS, APA, APS, ASME, CBE, Chicago, MLA, and many others. Offers mobile apps.
Style Manuals
(APA) Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th edition, 2010)
BF76.7.P83 2010
----Information/Reference Desk and Curriculum Collection in Dick Smith Library
----Reference Collection in Texan Hall (SW Metroplex campus)
----in-house use only
Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition, 2010)
Z253.U69 2010
----Information/Reference Desk in Dick Smith Library
----in-house use only
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th edition, 2009)
LB2369.T8 2009
----Information/Reference Desk in Dick Smith Library
----in-house use only
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (18th edition, 2004; 19th edition, 2010)
KF245.B58 2005
----Reference Collection in Dick Smith Library
KF245.B58 2010
----Reference Collection Texan Hall (SW Metroplex campus)
----in-house use only
(Turabian) A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations; Chicago Style for Students and Researchers (7th edition, 2007)
LB2369. T8 2007
----Information/Reference Desk in Dick Smith Library
----in-house use only
Updated March 19, 2013