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Why we Cite
Citations allow you to:
- Find further information on your topic
- Build the authority of your argument with ideas from numerous sources
- Be a responsible researcher and avoid plagiarism
When To Cite
Any time you write something that did not 100% come from your own brain, you need to site where you got the information. This means you will include a citation anytime you use some else's words or ideas in your own work. Including:
- Direct quotes- full sentences or phrases expressing an idea
- Paraphrases- when you put someone's ideas into your own words (do not use quotations)
- Words or terminology specifically related to the author's ideas
- An author's line of argument or point of view
- Historical, statistical, or scientific facts.
- Graphs, drawings, or images.
You do not need to document:
- Proverbs, axioms, or well know phrases.
- Common knowledge
- If you are not sure, it is better to over cite and under cite.
APA (American Psychological Association)
Online Guides
- APA Citation Style Guide
- APA Formatting and Style Guide from Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
Print Guide
Chicago Style
Online Guide
- The Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition from Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)