American Studies Resource Guide: Citing Sources

Why is it important to cite sources?

• To give credit to the author of your sources (avoiding plagiarism)
• To allow your readers the opportunity to check your sources (giving your work more credibility)

What are the elements of a citation?

• If you have questions about the parts of a citation, please see this page of the inflite Tutorial

Some sources for information on citing references:

APA (American Psychological Association) style:

• Information on APA style from Writing Tutorial Services at Indiana University
  • Includes information specific to citing electronic resources using APA style
• Information on APA style from the Writing Center at Purdue University
• Information on APA style from the Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin
• Writing the research paper : A handbook with both the MLA and APA documentation styles / Anthony C. Winkler, Jo Ray McCuen
  LB2369 .W56 1999 (Stacks)

Chicago Style:

• Information on Chicago style from Duke University
• Chicago Manual of Style Online
• Chicago Manual of Style / University of Chicago Press Staff
  PE1478.C57 (Ref Desk)

MLA (Modern Language Association) style:

• Information on MLA style from Writing Tutorial Services at Indiana University
  • Includes information specific to citing electronic resources using MLA style
• Information on MLA style from the Writing Center at Purdue University
• Information on MLA style from the Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin
• MLA handbook for writers of research papers / Joseph Gibaldi
  PE1478 .M71 2003 (Ref Desk)

Turabian:

• Information on Turabian citation style from Long Island University
• A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations / Kate Turabian
  LB2369.T8; Ref Desk

Additional resources:

• Listing of Printable Style Guides (Courtesy of California State University, Los Angeles)
• IUPUI Writing Center link to various style guides