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Citation Guides

In academic writing it is important to acknowledge outside ideas and concepts that you have used in your own work. Generally, the use of supporting resources is documented both within the body of the paper and in a bibliography at the end of the paper. There are many different formats for citing resources, ask your professors which citation style is most appropriate for your field or major. The links below will provide information on various citation styles, tips for preparing an annotated bibliography, and guidelines for in-text citations in the MLA and APA styles:

Documenting in the APA Style
The Cofrin Library resource page for citing sources in the American Psychological Association (APA) style, the most common style for the social sciences.

Documenting in the MLA Style
The Cofrin Library resource page for citing sources in the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, the most common style for the humanities.

Chicago Documentation Style

This site from Diana Hacker provides examples of the Chicago style of documentation, often used in the field of history.

Sciences: Documenting Sources

This site from Diana Hacker offers examples of the Scientific Style and Format, published by the Council of Biology Editors (CBE.) This citation style is often used by natural scientists.

List of Style Manuals

Here you will find a list of style manuals for many different disciplines. For help with using other documentation styles, please contact the Cofrin Library Reference Staff.

In-Text Citations

Most citation styles recommend in-text citations when using other author's ideas to support your work. This guide will provide examples and guidelines for in-text citations for the APA and MLA citation styles.

Preparing an Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is an organized list of sources with critical and explanatory notes provided for the reader. It generally consists of a representative sample of the best material on a specific topic. This resource provides guidelines on both researching and preparing an annotated bibliography.

EndNoteWeb citation mangement software

Free Automatic Citation Generators
Type in your information and have your citation compiled for you. Be aware that these are not foolproof and mostly handle basic kinds of citations. You will still need to verify that your citation is correct and check your spelling, capitalization, etc.

Citation Machine for APA and MLA formats
KnightCite for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles
NoodleBib Express for APA and MLA formats
EasyBib for MLA style
DocsCite for citing government publications in APA or MLA formats

Print Manuals
The print versions of the style manuals for each format provide much more extensive informatio and examples than these websites. You may need to consult them for instructions on some of your sources. The major ones held in the library are:

  • MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers 6th edition, 2003. Reference or Stacks, LB2369 .G53 2003
  • Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 2001 edition, Reference or Stacks, BF76.7 .P83 2001
  • The Complete Guide to Citing Government Information Resources : a Manual for Writers & Librarians Ref or Stacks:  J 9.5 .G374 2002x
  • Chicago Manual of Style 15th edition 2003. Reference or Stacks Z253 .U69 2003
  • CBE Style Manual : A Guide for Authors, Editors, and Publishers in the Biological Sciences 5th edition 1983 Reference or Stacks QH304 .C33 1983

Library Article Databases that Support Automatic Citation Generation
As you are searching and selecting articles in the following databases you can generate a citation list as you go and have it formatted in a variety of styles. You may need to register (it's free) and set up a personal account with some vendors before you begin in order to use this feature. Please contact a Reference Librarian if you need some assistance in getting this set up or generating your citation list. Again, you should check the results carefully for accuracy.

  • Cambridge Scientific Abstracts databases, including PSYCINFO, Sociological Abstracts, BioOne, Worldwide Politcal Science Abstracts, Social Services Abstracts, and Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management.
  • EBSCOhost databases, including Academic Search Elite, Business Source Elite, Environmental Issues & Policy Index, Medline, ERIC, MLA International Bibliography, CINAHL, and many more.
  • WilsonWeb databases, including Applied Science and Technology, Art Full Text, Humanities Fulltext, Social Sciences Fulltext, plus many others.
  • Proquest databases, including Proquest Newspapers, ABI Inform, EthnicNewswatch, and others.