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Citations are an important part of any research project.
There are several citation styles scholars use to appropriately attribute the ideas and opinions of others they've used in their own work. Different fields of study have different preferences, but your instructor will let you know which citation style you should be using for each course's assignments. Regardless of citation style, citations always include important bibliographic details that allow readers to locate exactly where you found the information you used to build your arguments in your own work. Whether you quote a citation word-for-word or paraphrase an idea, you must provide a citation! You should cite whatever resources you use for your research projects, including books, journal articles, newspapers, videos, websites, etc.
The bibliographic details that you'll need for your citations, regardless of citation style and resource format, include:
For some citation styles, you might also need additional information, such as page numbers. Check the different citation styles in the navigation menu to the left for more information.
Citing your sources and giving credit where credit is due is an important part of using other's work for your research. By citing your sources, you are avoiding plagiarism. You can learn more about plagiarism and how to avoid it from our Plagiarism Research Guide.
Citations also allow your readers to find more information about the facts and opinions you present in your work. They allow your readers to identify the range of perspectives you've considered and how the work of others has informed your own conclusions.
Goldstein Library provides research consultations with Research Librarians who are interested in your topic and excited to help you research! We are prepared to help you find the information you need to be successful! Our specialization is helping artists and designers find the materials that they need for reference and research (images, books, journal articles, websites, videos, and more); helping you understand how you can use what you find ethically; and how to cite your sources.