Citing Your Sources
"My paper is almost done, but now I need to cite my sources. My professor wants me to use a specific format, but I don't know where to start."
Citing sources is an important part of any research paper. It shows that you did thorough research and helps you avoid charges of plagiarism. By following a specific format for the citations in your notes and bibliography, you join the scholarly conversation on a topic, and allow others to easily follow up on the works you cite.
Different disciplines favor different formats for their citations. The most common are Chicago, APA, MLA, and ACS. Ask your professor which style to use. We have an online citation guide for these formats, and each style has a book-length guide to answer more obscure questions you may have.
Formatting your citations properly can take hours if done by hand, so don't wait until the last minute to start. Many students speed up the process by using a citation manager such as EndNote or RefWorks. There is a bit of a learning curve for these tools, but they can keep your citations organized and save hours of time at the end of the term.
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