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Spring '24 - EDUC 1100 - Harris - by Kara Dixon: Citing Sources

Citing your sources

When you borrow someone's information, data or words you must give credit to the original author.  The style of documentation, or citation style you use depends on the disciplinary area of the course you are taking, e.g., English or Nursing. Your instructor will tell you which style to use.  Use the information below to help format your citations correctly.

Avoiding Plagiarism

To cite or not to cite... Plagiarism means using the words and ideas of another person as if they were your own.  This includes both using the exact words or ideas of another. 1. Always acknowledge the contributions of others in your work. 2. Always use quotation marks when including verbatim text and include a citation. 3. Identify the source when paraphrasing or summarizing. 4. Information about common knowledge doesn't need a citation. But when in doubt, cite!)

How Library Stuff Works - MLA Citations

How Library Stuff Works- APA Citations

Citation Generators

Check out these websites to help with creating your citations. Always double check against our style guides!

Citation Machine
A citation generator for MLA, APA, Turabian and Chicago styles

KnightCite
A citation generator created by the Hekman Library of Calvin College.  It assists with creating citations in MLA, APA and Chicago for all types of resources.  You have the option to register for additional features such as saving and exporting citations.  

NoodleTools
NoodleBib Express quickly creates citations in MLA or APA.  You can also register for a NoodleBib MLA Starter account for additional feature such as the ability to save citations and format a works cited page. 

Zotero
A Firefox extension that helps with the collection, management and citation of sources (for Firefox only)

Database Citation Tools

Most of our databases include tools that automatically generate citations for every article, video, eBook that you open.  The citation tools may look different depending on which database you use.  Look for the icons below in your resources to quickly access a citation that you can copy and past into your assignment.  Don't forget to check these auto-generated citations for occasional errors (use the ACC Library Style Guides!)

Most databases offer tools that will generate a citation for your article.  Screenshot shows different icons for citation tools in different databases.

Academic Honesty

Try this short tutorial if you want to know more information about why we cite.   

MLA Style Resources

MLA Citation Guide created by ACC Librarians
Covers basic citation rules and provides citation examples of commonly used source types.

The MLA Style Center
Writing sources and support from the Modern Language Association

MLA Formatting and Style Guide
Created by the Purdue Online Writing Lab

APA Style Resources

APA Citation Guide created by ACC Librarians
Covers basic citation rules and provides citation examples of commonly used source types.

APA Style 
The authority on APA Style rules and support

APA Formatting and Style Guide
Created by the Purdue Online Writing Lab

 

CSE Style Resources

CSE Citation Guide created by ACC Librarians -- Name-Year Method
Covers basic citation rules and provides citation examples of commonly used source types

CSE Citation Guide created by ACC Librarians -- Citation-Sequence System
Covers basic citation rules and provides citation examples of commonly used source types


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