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Citation StylesWhat are Documentation Styles? Documentation styles have been established to provide you with a way to give credit for work that you have used in writing your paper. It is important to cite sources not only to give credit where it's due, but also to allow the reader of your work to locate the sources you have consulted. In short, the reader of your paper must be able to use the information you provide, both in the text and in appended list(s), to duplicate the research you have done. A documentation style is a standard approach to the citation of sources that the author of a paper has consulted, abstracted, or quoted from. It prescribes methods for citing references within the text, providing a list of works cited at the end of the paper, and even formatting headings and margins. Different academic disciplines use different documentation styles; your instructor may require you to use a particular style, or may allow you use one of your choosing. It is important to fully understand the documentation style to be used in your paper, and to apply it consistently. What to Document In general, you must document information that originates in someone else's work. All of the following should be accompanied by a reference to the original:
By now you're likely wondering, "Yes, but how do I know where the ideas of others end and my own begin?" If you're writing papers that require research, you've probably been in academia long enough to know that the only good answer to such a question is, "Good question." Giving credit where it's due is a founding principle of academic inquiry, one that fosters the free exchange of ideas. Ultimately, you'll need to decide for yourself which ideas you can claim as your own and which should be attributed to others. Perhaps we should consider how we'd like our work to be credited, and use that as our guide. Gathering Information for Documenting Sources You can make the process of applying any documentation style easier if you keep good notes while you perform research. Write down the most complete bibliographic information available for each source that you consult; you may want to take a look at the sample references list for the style you will be using to get an idea of the amount of detail that's required. If you write out quotations or data from a source, be sure to note the number of the page(s) on which the information appears in the original. Double check the quotation for accuracy before you return the source to the library. It's a good idea to put citations into your paper as you draft it. When you quote, put the source and page number directly after, perhaps marked with asterisks. When you refer, do the same. And when you place a citation in your text, add the source to your working bibliography. When it comes time to put the finishing touches on your paper, the information you need will be available right in your text, and may be easily put into the proper format. Which Style Should I Use? The choice as to which style is appropriate for a given paper may be determined by three factors: the requirements of the particular course, the standard for the discipline in which you are studying, or your individual preference. Your instructor may assign a documentation style for papers to be written for that course. This will often be indicated on the course syllabus or in the paper assignment, but may simply be mentioned during class. If no documentation style is prescribed, you should ask whether the instructor has a preference. If no preference is indicated, then you are free to choose a style. In doing so, consider which style will be most appropriate for your area of specialization. If you are pursuing a major in the humanities, consider learning the MLA style. If behavioral or social sciences are likely to be your interest, then the APA style may be most appropriate. For information about the major documentation styles, click on one of the items in the list at the top of this page. If you don't know what you want to major in, or aren't particularly interested in adopting a documentation style that will last your whole life long, then what you should do is read on, because we're just about to launch into a little comparison of the distinguishing features of the most commonly used documentation styles. Major Documentation Styles
For example, at some time in your research you will have to give credit to the authors of the web pages you visit. Below you will find some links to how to accomplish this: http://www.tekmom.com/cite/index.html http://www.virtualsalt.com/mla.htm http://www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/cite-website-material.aspx Adapted from Queen's University website |
