Castleton Calvin Coolidge Library

	Castleton State College Home Page > Library Homepage 178 Alumni Drive, Castleton, VT 05735 \| Library phone: 802-468-1256

How Do I...Cite a Source

Citing the sources you use in your research is important. You may need help deciding how to cite various kinds of sources.

Here are some resources to help:

We have copies of the handbook required for first year English Composition classes in the library:
The Scott Foresman Handbook for Writers, 8th ed., 2007 (REF 808.042 H127s 2007)

Another helpful book in the reference section of the library:
Cite Right--A Quick Guide to Citation Styles--MLA, APA, Chicago, the Sciences, Professions, and More (REF 808.027 L669c)

There are also manuals in the library for the APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Scientific (CSE) citation styles, for more information on citing a variety of sources using each style.

Some websites offer help with citing sources:

APA Style Online has an FAQ.
APA Formatting and Style Guide is from Purdue University's Online Writing Lab.
"Citing References in Your Paper," from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center, provides examples for a variety of citation styles.
"Citing Sources," from Duke University Libraries, provides examples for citations within your paper and for assembling your works cited list.
Research and Documentation Online includes help finding and documenting sources for the humanities, social sciences, history, and sciences, including sample papers demonstrating responsible citing of sources.

Citing electronic sources (websites, articles from databases, etc.)

Citation formats for electronic resources are included in style guides like those mentioned above. Below are some resources that address citing online resources specifically:

The Columbia Guide to Online Style (REF 808.027 W152c). Some examples from The Columbia Guide to Online Style are available online.
Excerpts from the APA Style Guide to Electronic References are available online.
How do I document sources from the Web in my works-cited list? is on the Modern Language Association website.

Citing full-text articles from online subscription databases

Online databases generally give you the information you need to cite a full-text article, either at the top or at the bottom of the page, and sometimes offer an option of preparing the citation in MLA or APA formats. Make sure to note the date you accessed the article, the name of the database, and, if you are using MLA, the URL of the database (for example: http://web.ebscohost.com).

In The Scott Foresman Handbook for Writers, see the section on "Sources from library subscription services" for the style you are using.

RefWorks and NoodleTools

One way to keep track of your sources is to use an online service like RefWorks or NoodleTools.

You can create an account in RefWorks or NoodleTools and get help with creating citations in many different styles. You can keep track of bibliographies and works cited lists. If you need help, check with a reference librarian.