Using Library Resources: Citations

Click on the link below to access the MLA Style for Writing Research Guide.

Click on the link below to access the APA Style for Writing Research Guide. 

Citation formats are rules and guidelines that make writing styles uniform within a specific work or publication. They cover the following:

• Layout of the paper (margins, spaces between lines, font size, etc.)
• In-Text documentation of sources (parenthetical citation)
• Source documentation at end of paper (Works Cited in MLA, References in APA)

There are many citation formats. Some of the more commonly used ones are MLA format, APA format, and Chicago format.

An annotated bibliography includes a summary and/or evaluation of each source, which is called an annotation. Depending on your assignment, your annotations may include one or more of the following:

Summarize: Some annotations merely summarize the source.

What are the main arguments?
What is the point of this book or article?
What topics are covered?

Assess: After you summarize a source, it may be helpful to evaluate it.

Is it a useful source?
How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography?
Is the information reliable?
Is it this source biased or objective?
What is the goal of this source?

Reflect: Next, determine how the source fits into your research.

• Was this source helpful to you?
• How does it help you shape your argument?
• How can you use this source in your research project?
• Has it changed how you think about your topic?

Click on the link below for more info.

NoodleTools helps you create citations for resources and create a citation list (Works Cited for MLA and References for APA).