Kelvin Smith Library
When writing a research paper, you have to find sources that give you information about the topic you are writing about. This page will help you understand what "citing" means, when to "cite", and how to "cite".
What is a "source"?
A source is the book, article, or other resource you used to help you put information in your paper about your research topic. Sources can be found in a catalog and/or a database.
What does it mean to "cite a source"?
"Citing" means to give attention to, or credit, to the source or sources you used in your paper because they are not your own thoughts or ideas. When you cite, you are telling anyone reading your paper where you found your information by noting in your citation who the author or authors are, the title, where the information can be found (the book or journal it is in for example), when it was published, and more.
Where do citations go in my paper?
When you are writing your paper and add a fact or idea you found from a source, you will add some information about the source near the sentence you wrote using a book or an article. Remember, if it is not your own idea you have to give credit to the person who produced the information.
How do I cite a source?
When citing a source, it is important that you do it correctly. Your instructor may have told you which format to follow when citing, such as MLA or APA format. Kelvin Smith Library has a Citation Guide to help you. Below you can go directly to the MLA or APA guides. These links will show you how to cite books, articles, magazines, and other print and non-print sources. They will also show you how to correctly format your research paper based on MLA or APA.
If you would like additional information on citing sources and avoiding plagiarism, check the links below.