It's important to cite sources you used in your research for several reasons:
If you need further assistance with citing sources, use Ask A Librarian.
Citing a source means that you show, within the body of your text, that you took words, ideas, figures, images, etc. from another place.
Citations are a short way to uniquely identify a published work (e.g. book, article, chapter, web site). They are found in bibliographies and reference lists and are also collected in article and book databases.
Citations consist of standard elements, and contain all the information necessary to identify and track down publications, including:
Citations may look different, depending on what is being cited and which style was used to create them. Choose an appropriate style guide for your needs.
You must cite:
When in doubt, be safe and cite your source!
Because there is no one standard citation style used at Centre:
Plagiarism occurs when you borrow another's words (or ideas) and do not acknowledge that you have done so. In this culture, we consider our words and ideas intellectual property; like a car or any other possession, we believe our words belong to us and cannot be used without our permission.
Plagiarism is a very serious offense. If it is found that you have plagiarized -- deliberately or inadvertently -- you may face serious consequences. The best way to avoid plagiarism is to cite your sources - both within the body of your paper and in a bibliography of sources you use at the end of your paper.
Some useful links about plagiarism:
Visit the Writing Center
Get help at any stage of the writing process -- from finding a topic to revising a draft. No appointment needed!
Location:
Crounse 113A (basement level, hallway to right of Vahlkamp Theater doors)
Hours: Sunday - Thursday *
2:00-4:00pm and 7:00-11:00pm
*closed for breaks and exam weeks
Visit the center for questions or call 859-238-6511.