CITING SOURCES

Library – LAUREL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE – Sharon Summer 2014

WHY DO YOU CITE?

1. To give credit to the creator

2. To verify that your information is accurate

3. To provide a source for additional information

WHEN DO YOU CITE?

1. When using the exact wording of material (quotation marks needed)

2. When restating material in your own words

WHEN DON’T YOU CITE?

1. When the material is your opinion

2. When the material is common knowledge

EXAMPLESIce Cream

1. Ice cream is my favorite dessert.

2. Ice cream is cold and sweet.

3. A cup of ice cream contains 200 mg of calcium.

Cite or Don’t Cite?1. Don’t cite:

opinion.

2. Don’t cite: common knowledge.

3. Cite: fact needing verification.

MLA STYLE GUIDE

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed. REF 808

MLA

PARTS OF CITATIONS

1. Author: last name, first name2. Title: in quotes3. Title of larger work: italicized/underlined4. Where published5. When published6. Pages cited7. Date accessed, if website8. URL, if website: in brackets9. Medium of Publication: usually Print or

Web

REMEMBER!1. Be clear

2. Be concise3. Be consistent

CAUTION!

Citation formatters are far from perfect. You must check the citation even if you are using a formatter.