What is a Citation?
A citation is what tells your reader that you got information from another source. It is used to acknowledge another's work, prevent plagiarism, lend credibility to your writing, and help the reader find the sources you used.
All of your citations will be listed on a page at the end of your paper and will need to follow an established writing style specified by your instructor. To learn how to use APA, MLA, Chicago, CSE, or ASA Style, click on one of the tabs above.
Citation Guides & Examples
Click the image below for the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) Citation Guides:
Organize Your Research
-
Refworks (formerly Flow)Keep track of your research by saving all of your articles in one place and generate citations in APA, MLA, or Chicago style. Create an account with your Helena College email address to get started.
-
Refworks (Original)Use this research tool to keep track of your articles, books, and websites. Generate your citations in APA, MLA, or Chicago style. Contact the library for the group code in order to create an account.
-
ZoteroA free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources.
Plagiarism Resources
-
Avoiding Plagiarism (Purdue OWL)There are few intellectual offenses more serious than plagiarism in academic and professional contexts. This resource offers advice on how to avoid plagiarism in your work.
-
Plagiarism.orgShort overview of plagiarism, including how and when you must cite sources,"Ask the Expert" space for Q&A, and other plagiarism resources including webcasts, tools, facts and stats, student materials, and news.
Overview
There are several different ways to cite resources in your paper, most of which have been standardized and approved by professional or educational organizations. The citation style usually depends on the academic discipline involved. For example:
- MLA style is typically used by the Humanities (Art, Literature, Music, Philosophy, and Religion).
- APA style is often used by Business, Law and the Social Sciences (Education, Psychology, Sociology).
- Chicago/Turabian is generally used by History and some of the Fine Arts.
- CSE style is used by most of the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, and Nursing).
IMPORTANT: Check with your instructor to make sure you use the style they require. And whatever style you choose, BE CONSISTENT!
Citation Guide Books
-
-
Cite right: A quick guide to citation styles--MLA, APA, Chicago, the sciences, professions, and more by Call Number: 808.027 LIPISBN: 9780226484648Publication Date: 2011-05-15 -
The Little Penguin Handbook by Call Number: 808.042 FAIISBN: 9780321945563Publication Date: 2014-06-26 -
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by Call Number: 808.0661 PUBPublication Date: 2019-10-01 -
Concise Guide to APA Style by Call Number: Circulation DeskISBN: 9781433832734Publication Date: 2019-12-01This guide focuses on the new APA guidelines that apply to student papers.
Library Staff
Writing Guides
Get writing tips and advice on how to write different types of documents, from persuasive essays to research papers.
-
University of Toronto's Writing PageNumerous writing resources about citations styles, paper formats, and how to write different types of papers as well as how to research for them.
-
University Writing Center: Writing and Speaking GuidesFrom Texas A&M writing center, access a large variety of writing resources from an alphabetical or topical listing of helpful handouts, videos, or audio broadcasts.