What's This All About?
Why cite my sources?
Citing your sources helps the reader locate the sources used in your research paper. Just as important, good citations and bibliographies give due credit to the authors you cite in your paper. Acknowledging the work of others helps protect you from accusations of plagiarism, which is the uncredited use of source material by other writers.
What is a bibliography?
A bibliography, also known as a reference list or works cited page, is a list of the resources used or referred to in your paper. This organized list, which is placed at the end of the research paper, offers greater details of your in-text citations.In the past, bibliographies usually contained references to the books and magazine articles that were cited in the research. But today, a bibliography may also include citations to video, audio, and computer resources.
What is an in-text citation?
If you quote, paraphrase, or summarize another's work, then you need to cite the source of that work in your research paper. This is known as an in-text citation. An in-text citation is an annotation which allows your reader to easily identify the source of your information.
MLA, APA, and Chicago
These are the 3 primary citation styles. Use the yellow tabs across the top of this page to learn more about each style. Use the boxes to the right to learn about resources that can help with each of these citation styles.
Resources on the Internet
Citing sources can be daunting to many of us. The internet offers these resources to help with different citation styles, such as MLA, APA, and Chicago.
Books that Can Help You Cite Your Sources
The College of Marin Library offers materials that can be consulted for quick reference as you research and cite your sources. The following is a selected list of our more helpful guides: