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Assignment Scenarios

Taking Notes and Citing Sources

  1. Keep track of potentially useful sources as you find them.
  2. Take notes as you research and investigate your topic.
  3. Know how to cite your sources.

To avoid inadvertent plagiarism, follow these tips:

tip

1. Keep track of potentially useful sources as you find them.

 

One method of keeping track of sources is to use index cards. Enter a source's publication information on an index card. Format the entry in the citation style you will be using in your paper.
source_card

 

Another method of keeping track of sources is to manage citations electronically. With RefWorks you can export citations from most databases and automatically format a bibliography in your citation style of choice.
refworks

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tip

2. Take notes as you research and investigate your topic.

 

A note card might be a larger index card, but try to restrict content to one main idea. Indicate whether you are summarizing, paraphrasing, or quoting and be sure to include a connection with your source.
note_card

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tip 3. Know how to cite your sources.

 

Your citations must be formatted consistently in a particular style. Your choice of style depends on your area of research. Ask your instructor or your librarian for advice.

The Citation / Style Guides site provides links to online guides and support for style guides, such APA, MLA, CSE and Chicago.  The site is maintained by the Library and can be found in the Online Reference Shelf.

Here is a list of the most widely used styles.

Resource
 Discipline

Chicago Manual of Style

 

Chicago Manual of Style. 15th ed ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.

Z253 .U5

 

guide to publishing in any field

ACS Style Guide

Coghill, Anne M., and Lorrin R. Garson. ACS Style Guide: Effective Communication of Scientific Information. 3rd ed ed.: Oxford: American Chemical Society; Oxford University Press, 2006.

QD8.5 .A25

 

sciences, particularly chemistry

MLA

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2003.

LB2369 .G53

 

humanities, particularly language and literature

Handbook for Writing in the Mathematical Sciences

Higham, N. J. Handbook of Writing for the Mathematical Sciences. Philadelphia: Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, 1993.

QA42.H54

 

mathematical sciences

AMA Manual of Style

Iverson, Cheryl. AMA Manual of Style : A Guide for Authors and Editors. 10th ed ed. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.

R119 .A533

 

medicine

APA Style

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association [APA]. 6th ed ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2010.

BF76.7.P83

APA Style Guide to Electronic References. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2007.

BF76.7.P83195

 

social and behavioral sciences

Council of Biology Editors

Scientific style and format : the CSE manual for authors, editors, and publishers. 7th ed ed. Reston, Va.: Council of Science Editors, 2006.

T11 .S386

 

all areas of science and related fields

Turabian

Turabian, Kate L. Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations : Chicago Style for Students and Researchers. 7th ed ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2007.

LB2369 .T8

 

Chicago Style for students and researchers

IEEE

IEEE Editorial Style Manual

IEEE Computer Society Style Guide

IEEE Standards Style Manual

defines and explains unique IEEE Computer Society usages

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