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Citing Sources

There are different citation styles such as: APA, MLA, Chicago, CSE, and Turabian.

  • The most popular citation styles utilized by professors at the College of Central Florida are: APA, and MLA.

Formats to Cite

  • Besides books, and articles, there are many others formats that require proper citing such as: images, websites, infographics, statistics, videos, and music.

citing different formats

APA & MLA

APA Citation

  • APA Style: a citation style created by the American Psychological Association for documenting sources, and formatting papers.
  • To consult the latest edition guidelines, find a print copy in the library’s circulating collection using the call number below.
  • Call number: BF 76.7 .P83 2020
  • Print copies are also available at each of the reference desks at the Ocala, and Citrus campus library.

APA Web Resources

MLA Citation

  • MLA Style: a citation style created by the Modern Language Association for documenting sources, and formatting papers.
  • To consult the latest edition guidelines, find a print copy in the library’s circulating collection using the call number below.
  • Call number: LB 2369 .M52 2021
  • Print copies are also available at each of the reference desks at the Ocala, and Citrus campus library.

MLA Web Resources 

Why Should You Cite?

  1. Giving credit to those who had the idea is the right thing to do.

  2. Shows academic integrity.

  3. Helps those who interact with your work find the sources you used for reference.

  4. Provides evidence for your arguments.

  5. It is standard practice for students, and scholars to cite their sources.

  6. You avoid plagiarism.

What is Plagiarism? When you present ideas or information as your own without properly acknowledging the author.

  • It is okay to use material from others, and quote their ideas, but it is important to provide proper credit through citing.

Evaluating Internet Sources

If you decide to take your search to the open web, ask yourself the following questions:

How to Evaluate Internet Sources

  • Authority: Check the author; do a quick internet search. Are they credible? Are they real? What else have they written?
  • Purpose: Who is the audience; investigate the site, mission, and it’s contact info. Explore the site’s About page.
  • Publication: Where was it published? Is the publication associated with a particular editorial position?
  • Read beyond: Is the headline outrageous? Be careful, it might be satire.
  • Date: When was it written? Has it been updated?
  • Documentation: Did they cite their sources? Who did they cite? Does the article include links? Check if those links support the article.

Not sure whether you should include a source in your paper or project?  Contact the library, CF librarians are always ready to help!

More...

The following infographic shows additional tips on how to evaluate online sources.

How to Spot Fake News

Finding Sources for Your Topic: 3 Key Steps

reference sources2 minute read

1. Your Search Topic: Background Information

  • A research topic should be focused. If you are not familiar with your topic, explore a topic by consulting a reference source.

What are reference sources? Sources that provide background information on different topics.

  • Examples of reference sources are: dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals, and handbooks.
  • To search for reference sources, Go to the library catalog HERE.

Catalog Filters

  • You will need to use filters to narrow your results to reference sources.

  • Click HERE to view screenshot instructions of how to search for reference sources in the catalog.

2. Choose Good Keywords

What are Keywords in library searching? Words that you type into a search box to locate information on a particular topic.

  • When searching the library catalog do not enter your search topic in a complete sentence, instead type 1-3 keywords that describe your topic.

Tips 

  • Synonyms: go to the open web and search synonyms for your terms. Sometimes, you will need to make multiple searches to decide which terms work better.
  • Your keywords might be different from the words used by the library catalog; use controlled vocabulary- language used by a database to describe a topic.
  • Using controlled vocabulary will result in more relevant results since you are using the language used by the database.
  • View a database’ controlled vocabulary by accessing the item's details page, and looking at the Subject Terms. 

3. Search Sources by Type

Types of library sources

  • Books & e-Books: provide in-depth, and background information on a topic.
  • Periodicals: scholarly Journals and articles; trade publications, newspapers, and magazines.
  • Scholarly Journals: provide highly specific information for scholars.
  • Trade Publications: journal that provides information on a targeted discipline or industry.
  • Magazines: general information for a broad audience.
  • Newspapers: provide up-to-date information about national, and regional events.
  • Media: electronic media that possess sound, and visual components.
  • Scholarly Databases: Highly organized collections made up of different types of quality resources. Generally, scholarly databases are reviewed by professionals. Information is more reliable than information found in the open web.

Catalog filters

  • You will need to use filters to search by source type.
  • Click HERE to view screenshot instructions on how to search for different sources in the library catalog.

About Peer Reviewed Sources

  • What is Peer Review? Journals that include articles written by experts in their field, and are reviewed by other experts in that particular field before being published. Reviewers judge the quality of the article, writing, content, research methods, and other criteria.
  • Below is a handout for peer-review searching instructions.