Your Virtual Library
Citation Guidelines
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities.
APA (American Psycological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences.
The websites listed below will assist you with creating citations in MLA and APA formats.
EasyBib : Enter your citation information into Easy Bib and it will create a Works Cited page that you can then put into your paper. Remember, if you type in incorrect information, you will get incorrect information back! This site will help with formatting, but it is NO substitute for keeping track of your sources during your research and making sure that you have selected the correct information.
Noodletools: NoodleTools provides innovative software that teaches students and supports teachers and librarians throughout the entire research process. Choose a NoodleTools MLA Lite. It is a free version of our MLA Jr. tool (limited source types, and no access to notecards, outlining, collaboration, or sharing
Son of Citation Machine : The citation machine helps to properly credit the information that they use.
OWL : (Online Writing Lab) is a great site for looking up information if you have questions on how to cite different kinds of sources. Go to the MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format and use the menu on the left to see information on the kind of source you are trying to cite: books, web, electronic sources, etc.
Including In-Text Parenthetical Citations in your Paper:
Parenthetical Notes Overview from Easy Bib
Additional Help with MLA:
Bibliographic MLA formats to use for citing works taken from books, references, magazines and newspapers, online sources:
Book
1. Author(s)
2. Title of Book
3. Place of Publication
4. Pubbesher
5. Year of Publication (copyright)
Format:
Author(s). Title of Book. Place of Publication: Pubbesher, Year of Publication (copyright).
Example:
Macquitty, Miranda. Shark. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2000.
Reference Book:
1. Title of Article
2. Name of Reference Book
3. Year of Edition (copyright)
Format:
“Title of Article.” Name of Reference Book. Year of Edition (copyright).
Example:
“Flying Lemur.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 1996 ed.
Magazine or Newspaper Article
1. Author
2. Title of Article
3. Title of Source
4. Day Month Year
5. Pages
Format:
Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Source Day Month Year: Pages.
Example:
Wu, Norbert, “Under the Ice.” National Geographic World Jan./Feb. 2002: 20-23.
Online document
1. Author of article
2. Title of article
3. Title of Print Version of Work (magazine, newspaper, book, etc.)
4. Date (of publication or copyright date
5. Page numbers
6. Title of Electronic Work (underlined or in italics)
7. Information Supplier (electronic source used)
8. Address (optional)
9. Electronic address, or URL, of the source (in angle brackets)
10. Access Date (Date you retrieved the article)
Format:
Author. “Article title.” Title of print version of work: date of publication: page numbers. Title of electronic work. Available protocol: URL of specific article (date of visit to site).
Example:
Frick, Robert. “Investing in Medical Miracles.” Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Feb. 1999: 80-87. Sirs Knowledge Source: Researcher. Available HTTP: http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-frame? id-23011-1963+094062+medical RES (22 Feb. 1999).
Research Terminology
Engines (search engines) - Programs that search the World Wide Web for information.
Directories - On the World Wide Web, a directory is a subject guide, typically organized by major topics and subtopics.
Databases - A database is a collection of information that is organized so that its contents can easily be accessed, managed, and updated.
Graphics - A collection of pictures and designs.
Periodicals - Magazines (including newspapers) that are published at regular intervals.
Specialties - General subject matter that is narrowed down to a single branch of study.
Government - Websites for information on anything associated with the U.S. government.
Books - Websites to review or buy books and publications.
Libraries - A collection of files with precompiled information.
Media - A best of searchable information of TV and radio publications.
Reference - Sources containing concise information on a variety of topics, i.e. encyclopedia