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Writing & Citing

This guide will help you cite sources for your papers and demonstrate tools to make this process easier.

Citations

Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction

This video (1:54) from NC State University Libraries explains citations, citation styles, and how they are used in academic writing.

“Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction” by NCSU Libraries is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 

Styles Guides

APA (American Psychological Association) style is widely used in the social sciences and health sciences. If you are a student in business, education, psychology, or other social sciences you will likely use this style. Always ask your instructor about their requirements for citation styles.

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is widely used in literature, arts, and the humanities. Always ask your instructor about their requirements for citation styles.

The Chicago Manual of Style includes two systems of documentation. The notes-bibliography system (NB) is used in literature, history, and the arts. The author-date system is used in the sciences and social sciences. Turabian is a simplified version of the Chicago Manual of Style and is designed for student writers who are not publishing their papers. Always ask your instructor about their requirements for citation styles.

AAA (American Anthropological Association) uses The Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition. Always ask your instructor about their requirements for citation styles.

ACS (American Chemical Society) style is used in chemistry and biochemistry. Instructors commonly request that students use the name-year format. Always ask your instructor about their requirements for citation styles.

American Sociological Association Style (ASA) is primarily used by students in Sociology. Always ask your instructor about their requirements for citation styles.

CSE (Council of Science Editors) style is used in the fields of biology, ecology, zoology, and medical sciences. Always ask your instructor about their requirements for citation styles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a style guide?

A style guide is a set of rules for academic writing which covers mechanics of writing, formatting papers, and citing sources. The most used style guides at Cal State LA are MLA which stands for Modern Language Association and APA which is short for American Psychological Association. 

 

Why should you cite your sources?

You should cite your sources because this is how you credit the work of others. Pointing your reader to authoritative and expert writers and creators strengthens your argument. Scholars and students use and create knowledge ethically and avoid plagiarism by properly crediting other peoples’ ideas. 

 

What is a bibliography?

A bibliography is a list of sources like books or articles used or consulted by an author in preparing a particular work. Depending on the style manual you are using, the bibliography might also be called the "reference list" or "works cited." 

 

What is the difference between a source, a citation, and a reference?

While these terms have similar meanings and are sometimes used interchangeably, there are differences between them.

  • A source is an item/material that you use in your research, such as a book, article, or webpage.
  • A citation is a shortened reference within the body of your paper that lets the reader know where the information is coming from and corresponds to the full reference in the list of references at the end of your paper.
  • A reference is the full information about a source at the end of your paper. At a minimum, this includes the author or creator, the title of the work, and the publication date.
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