Citing sources is a vital part of research and writing. It allows your readers to examine the depth of your research and explore sources covering similar topics and subjects. Giving credit where credit is due through citing your sources is also one of the keys to adhering to Sacred Heart University's Academic Integrity Policy. Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy can result in failing grades, departmental sanctions, temporary exclusion from the campus, and even dismissal from the university. The following information should help you avoid any citation-based issues, but, if you have any questions about whether or not you need to cite a resource, ask your instructor, a librarian, or writing support personnel at the Jandrisevits Learning Center.
Citation style depends largely on the preferences of your class instructor and the academic discipline under consideration. The following titles are the official style guides for the four most widely used citation systems at Sacred Heart University: Chicago, MLA, AMA, and APA.
To examine more about the differences between styles and for information on citing sources using these systems, see the books in the SHU Library collection below or take a look at AMA, APA, MLA, and Chicago quick guides, as well as our supplemental guide for audiovisual and digital resources, here.
AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors, 11th Edition
The Chicago Manual of Style by
For the sixteenth edition, every aspect of coverage has been reconsidered to reflect how publishing professionals work today. Though processes may change, the Manual continues to offer the clear, well-considered style and usage advice it has for more than a century.
The sixteenth edition offers expanded information on producing electronic publications, including web-based content and e-books. An updated appendix on production and digital technology demystifies the process of electronic workflow and offers a primer on the use of XML markup, and a revised glossary includes a host of terms associated with electronic as well as print publishing. The Chicago system of documentation has been streamlined and adapted for a variety of online and digital sources. Figures and tables are updated throughout the book—including a return to the Manual’s popular hyphenation table and new, comprehensive listings of Unicode numbers for special characters.
MLA Handbook: Eighth Edition by
The Modern Language Association, the authority on research and writing, takes a fresh look at documenting sources in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. Works are published today in a dizzying range of formats. A book, for example, may be read in print, online, or as an e-book--or perhaps listened to in an audio version. On the Web, modes of publication are regularly invented, combined, and modified. Previous editions of the MLA Handbook provided separate instructions for each format, and additional instructions were required for new formats. In this groundbreaking new edition of its best-selling handbook, the MLA recommends instead one universal set of guidelines, which writers can apply to any type of source. Shorter and redesigned for easy use, the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook guides writers through the principles behind evaluating sources for their research. It then shows them how to cite sources in their writing and create useful entries for the works-cited list.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by
The official source for APA Style. Several print copies are available. Click on the title for details.
Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction (from NCSU Libraries)
This helpful video from North Carolina State University Libraries gives students a brief look at what citations are and why they are used in research.
When to Cite Sources
Princeton University's "When to Cite Sources" page from their Academic Integrity guide offers an excellent rundown on when and what types of information writers need to cite.
Resources
This playlist of short videos, produced by the makers of EasyBib, highlight several aspects of citing sources, such as in-text citations, formatting block quotes, and pararphrasing. Helpful information on the research process is also included.
Collecting, organizing, and formatting your references for a research project can be a real pain. Thankfully there are some excellent programs that have been created to help you do all three of these tasks.
One useful and free citation management tool is called Zotero. Zotero allows users to save citation information from their library catalog and library databases and then create citations while writing in MS Word. Zotero can be accessed by clicking the logo below.
For further information on using Zotero, check out the Zotero guide from SHU Library.
The JLC offers academic support services at no additional cost to all SHU students:
Academic Support Services include 1-on-1 tutoring with Professional and Peer tutors; group study sessions for particular courses by Classroom Learning Assistants (CLAs); monthly workshops on specific academic and life skills; specialized Learning Labs in math, critical reading and writing, accounting, and math; and online writing support (OWL).
Special Learning Services provides instructional accommodations and services for students with documented disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These services include testing accommodations, and assistive technology tools.
To schedule an appointment, visit the Jandrisevits Learning Center scheduling system.
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