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  ::  Citing
Citing
Citing a source means indicating where you got your information.  In a paper, cite your source by providing a brief citation in the text of the paper and a corresponding full citation in the list of sources at the end of the paper.  Citations may also be called references. 
MLA and APA
Both the MLA and the APA guides to research and documentation are used on the Shawnee State University campus.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed., by Joseph Gibaldi  
Clark Memorial Library Reference LB 2369 .G53 2003

  • On the SSU campus, MLA style is generally preferred in the Fine Arts and in English & the Humanities.  
  • In a paper written in MLA style, the brief citation in the text of your paper usually consists of the author's last name and the page number.  Some or all of this information will be in parentheses.  The corresponding full citation is a complete MLA-style "entry" which you place at the end of your paper in a section called "Works Cited." 
  • Basic information about the MLA format is available at MLA Style .

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association --"the APA" 
Clark Memorial Library Reference BF 76.7 .P83 2001; Reference
APA Style Guide to Electronic References
Clark Memorial Library Reference Counter PN 171 .A63 2007
 

  • On the SSU campus, APA style is generally preferred in the Sciences (Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences), Business, Education, and Industrial & Engineering Technology. 
  • In a paper written in APA style, the brief citation in the text of your paper usually consists of the author's last name, the date, and the page number.  Some or all of this information will be in parentheses.  The corresponding full citation is a complete APA-style "reference" which you place at the end of your in paper in a section called "References." 
  • Basic information about the APA format is available at APAStyle.org .

NoodleTools and NoodleBib
Library provides NoodleTools/NoodleBib, a basic bibliographic software resource, to Shawnee State users.  Please ask Library Reference for the username and password.  If you are doing extensive research, you may want to consider purchasing a personal bibliographic software such as EndNote, ProCite, Reference Manager, or the online product RefWorks. 

Additional Resources
For additional information on citing electronic resources, the following books are also available at the Clark Memorial Library Reference Counter:

  • The Columbia Guide to Online Style by Janice R. Walker and Todd Taylor
    Basic information from this guide is available at the CGOS Website
  • Electronic Styles : a Handbook for Citing Electronic Information by Xia Li and Nancy B. Crane
  • The book Online! A Reference Guide to Using Internet Sources includes instructions for applying APA, MLA, Chicago, and CBE style rules.
  • Research and Documentation in the Electronic Age, 3rd ed., by Diana Hacker, which has an open website Research and Documentation Online.

You may also find helpful information in these online resources:

  • Electronic Style--The Final Frontier offers a Web-based guide to citing electronic resources. George H. Hoemann, Coordinator for Distance and Continuing Education at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, created this page while a graduate student at the School of Information Sciences of at UT Knoxville.

  • Citation Guides for Electronic Documents from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions provides links to pertinent sites, including web resources in French and Spanish.


Need Help? 

Get help via IM, email (Reference_Services@Shawnee.edu), or by phoning (740.351.3321).  

If you prefer face-to-face assistance, stop by the Clark Memorial Library Reference Counter or schedule a Research Consultation with a Reference Librarian

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Last Updated:
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