UNST Portland -Dougher: Cite Sources

A citation gives credit to the original author(s) of a work. Citations also allow people who are reading your work to be able to find the original sources of information. 

Basic citations for a book, for example, include the name(s) of author(s) or editor(s), the title of the book, the publisher's name, the place of publication, and the most recent copyright year.

There are a number of styles that can be used to construct citations. Each style specifies the information to be included in the citation, the order of the information,the format, and the punctuation.  

Your instructor may require a particular style. If there is not an assigned style, then choose a style and be consistent with that style throughout your work.

When you use someone else's word, ideas, or images in your writing, you need to give them proper credit.  Providing a citation or reference enables others to locate these sources too.  

We cite to:                                                                                                                                    

• Avoid plagiarism - give credit where credit is due
• Allow our reader to follow up on points that interest them
• Give our writing more credibility
• Help our reader see how we came to our conclusion

You should cite when you:

• Use a direct quote
• Make a claim that might be challenged/questioned
• Paraphrase the ideas of another person
• Offer an expert opinion

When you present someone else's work or ideas as your own, that is plagiarism, whether accidental or intentional. Plagiarism is taken seriously as a form of academic misconduct. Citations are an essential part of your paper or presentation.

Plagiarism can be:

• Copying someone's words without giving them credit;
• Using someone's ideas or concepts without giving them credit;
• Misrepresenting someone's ideas or concepts;
• Copying images or music without permission or without proper attribution;
• Citing incorrectly by citing the wrong source or having incomplete or inaccurate citations;
• Failing to acknowledge the contribution of others in work produced collaboratively.

Check your assignment for the required citation style before writing your references and endnotes.