How to cite references in an essay

Shortened notes using titles rather than publication dates would look like this in the article:

References help back up arguments, prove major points and make the essay more reliable. When you use references to validate the major points in your paper, you are showing the reader that your arguments are not based on your personal assertions alone, but instead on those of other authors and researchers.

You can use references by summarizing, paraphrasing or quoting your sources, providing an in-text citation and listing the sources on your reference page. Style Guidelines Specific guidelines outline the use of references in an essay, and most essays are written following APA, MLA or Chicago Style, depending on your subject and essay instructions.

It is important to know which style format is required as this affects the way in which you will create in-text citations and reference page entries.

Either way, you will be including enough information via your references, so that the reader can find your original source to validate your claim or conduct further research. Using Sources As you gather references, it is important to use reliable sources that directly back up your main point.

For example, if you were writing a research paper on the benefits of school uniforms, you might look for statistics that discus how uniforms affect crime and peer pressure in schools. You might also search for professionals who have strong opinions on the matter and quote them in your paper.

As you gather your references, keep detailed notes on the sources so that you can get back to them if you need to.

How to Cite

In-Text Citations Once you have adequate summaries of your research and quotes from professionals, you can begin to use them in your essay. Place research in the paragraphs where it directly supports the point you are trying to make. Any outside information used must be referenced in the essay via an in-text citation or footnote.

For example with an APA-formatted essay, your parenthetical citation will include the last name of the author and year of publication.

Reference Page Every essay that uses research and outside information must also include a reference page where the sources are listed. The reference page is a separate page that comes at the end of the essay and lists your sources in alphabetical order by last name of the author.

Detailed information is important, including date, type of publication, volume and issue number and publisher information. Cite this Article A tool to create a citation to reference this article Cite this Article.Page, volume, issue When to cite page numbers.

Previously, APA referencing required page numbers (or other location references) only for a direct quotation from another source. Citing References in the Body (Intro and Discussion) of the Paper Throughout the body of your paper (primarily the Intro and Discussion), whenever you refer to outside sources of information, you must cite the sources from which you drew information.

Instructions on how to correctly cite sources in academic writing. This depends on what type of work you are writing, how you are using the borrowed material, and the expectations of your instructor.

Summary: APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences.

MLA Formatting and Style Guide

This resource, revised according to the 6 th edition, second printing of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference page.

For more information, please consult the Publication . Netiquette "Netiquette" refers to Internet etiquette. This simply means the use of good manners in online communication such as e-mail, forums, blogs, and social networking sites to name a few.

APA Citation Guide: In-Text Citations (How to Cite Within your Paper) Learn the intricacies of APA Citation Style.

APA is the citation style used by the Health Professions, Sciences, and Social Sciences.