Most databases provide you with a citation for your source in MLA, APA or other styles. However, those citations often contain errors. Think of them as a rough draft. Use the guides below to help you polish up those rough citations, and avoid plagiarism in the process. Your instructor will be pleased!
Both the librarians located at the Library Reference Desk (Room A212) and the writing tutors located in the Sage Learning Center (Room A247) can help you with citations.
MLA Handbook 8th Edition by 
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition is the official source for APA Style. With millions of copies sold worldwide in multiple languages, it is the style manual of choice for writers, researchers, editors, students, and educators in the social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, nursing, communications, education, business, engineering, and other fields. Known for its authoritative, easy-to-use reference and citation system, the Publication Manual also offers guidance on choosing the headings, tables, figures, language, and tone that will result in powerful, concise, and elegant scholarly communication. It guides users through the scholarly writing process--from the ethics of authorship to reporting research through publication. The seventh edition is an indispensable resource for students and professionals to achieve excellence in writing and make an impact with their work. The seventh edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect best practices in scholarly writing and publishing. All formats are in full color, with a new tabbed spiral version Improved ease of navigation, with many additional numbered sections to help users quickly locate answers to their questions Resources for students on writing and formatting annotated bibliographies, response papers, and other paper types as well as guidelines on citing course materials Dedicated chapter for new users of APA Style covering paper elements and format, including sample papers for both professional authors and student writers New chapter on journal article reporting standards that includes updates to reporting standards for quantitative research and the first-ever qualitative and mixed methods reporting standards in APA Style New chapter on bias-free language guidelines for writing about people with respect and inclusivity in areas including age, disability, gender, participation in research, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality More than 100 new reference examples covering periodicals, books, audiovisual media, social media, webpages and websites, and legal resources More than 40 new sample tables and figures Expanded guidance on ethical writing and publishing practices, including how to ensure the appropriate level of citation, avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism, and navigate the publication process Guidelines that support accessibility for all users, including simplified reference, in-text citation, and heading formats as well as additional font optionsThere are three ways to cite your sources in the text of your paper:
By number. Sources cited this way are numbered consecutively as they are used in your paper. The number is written in italics in parenthesis before the period.
Chemical synthesis of the compound created three products (1).
By superscript. Sources cited this way are number consecutively as they are used in your paper. The number is written in superscript immediately following the period.
Chemical synthesis of the compound created three products.1
By name and date. Sources cited this way are identified by the last name of the author followed by the year the source was published. The last name (or names, in the case of two authors) is followed by a comma and then the year. This is all included in parenthesis before the period.
Chemical synthesis of the compound created three products (Smith, 2014).
The organization of your reference list depends on how you formatted your in-text citations. For options 1 and 2 (above), list your sources numerically. For option 3, list your options alphabetically by author's last name.
Your reference list should be single spaced. Do not include extra lines between source citations.
End every citation with a period.
Citations, or references, need to include enough information to allow for your reader to identify and locate the sources you used.
For articles, include the authors' names, journal title, publication date, volume and issue numbers, and page information. While you do not have to include the article title, it is recommended that you do.
For books, include the names of any authors or editors, title publisher, and the city and year of publication. When using a specific chapter in a book it is recommended that you also include the chapter title.
Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; (etc) Title of Article. Journal Title or Abbreviation Year, Volume (issue number), Page Range.
Sanders, L.; Microbes of the Mind. Sci. News 2016, 189 (7), 22-25.
Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; (etc) Title of Article. Journal Title or Abbreviation [Online] Year, Volume (issue number), Page Range. Database Name. URL of database (accessed Date Accessed).
Sanders, L.; Microbes of the Mind. Sci. News [Online] 2016, 189 (7), 22-25. Academic Search Complete. https://www.ebscohost.com/academic/academic-search-complete (assessed Aug 25, 2016).
Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; (etc) Title of Article. Title of Magazine or Newspaper, Complete Date, Page Range.
Goodnough, A.; Atkinson, S.; Flint Water Crisis Also Hits at Mental Health. New York Times, May 1, 2016, 16-19.
Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; (etc) Chapter Title. Book Title, Edition Number; Series Information; Publisher; Place of Publication, Year; Volume Number, Pagination.
Cobb, C.; Fetterolf, M.L.;Periodically Speaking. The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things, Prometheus Books; New York, 2005; 55-72.
Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; (etc) Chapter Title. In Book Title, Edition Number; Editor 1, Editor 2, (etc) Eds.; Series Information; Publisher; Place of Publication, Year; Volume Number, Pagination.
Cowan, R.S.; Prenatal Gene Manipulation Has Many Advantages. In Genetic Disorders; Green, R.M. Ed.; Opposing Viewpoints series; Greenhaven Press; Detroit, 2009; 143-149.
Check out the document and links below for more information and help. Or just ask a librarian!