Skip to Main Content

The Research Process: Citing Sources

Overview of Citing Sources

Use the information on this page to help you correctly cite your sources that are used in your research paper. 

MLA or APA

  MLA (Modern Language Association):

     English, Literature, and Humanities courses often follow MLA, and is most often used in K-12

     coursework.

  APA (American Psychological Association):

     Use in science and research, such as in the medical or education fields, and fields of psychology

 

An Introduction

Type of Source

What type of source am I using? Before you can cite anything, you need to be aware of the type of source you are using. Especially when you are working on information found online, this can get confusing. Click here for a website to help you decide the type of source.

Noodle Tools

Thumbnail

  1. ​​​Open NoodleTools.
  2. Choose citation style for your project. (APA format for science fair and health disease project)
  3. Click Create Citation.
  4. Fill out the information for your source as completely as you can. Ask for help if needed.
  5. Click Submit.
  6. Copy and paste your citation into your Word document in OneDrive.
  7. Format your Word document correctly for APA Reference page. There is a sample and directions in the Overview of Citing Sources box on this page.

MLA Format Sources

       

Purdue OWL : MLA Formatting : Creating a Works Cited Page

MLA In-Text Citations

MLA Paper Formatting

MLA Works Cited Page Formatting

 

MLA Works Cited Page Formatting

Page Format: Use the heading “Works Cited” centered one inch below the top edge of a new page. Do not bold or underline this heading.
Page Number: Begin the list on a new page and number each page, continuing the page numbers of the research paper.

For example, if the text of your research paper ends on page 10, the works-cited list begins on page 11. The page number appears in the upper right-hand corner, half an inch from the top and flush with the right margin.
Indentation: Do not indent the first line of each entry. If an entry runs more than one line, indent the subsequent line or lines 1/2 inch from the left margin.
Spacing: Double-space the entire list, both between and within entries. Continue the list on as many pages as necessary.
Alphabetizing: Alphabetize entries in your list of works cited by the author’s last name, using the letter-by-letter system. In this system, the order of names is determined by the letters before the commas that separate last names and first names. Spaces and other punctuation marks are ignored. The letters following the commas are considered only when two or more last names are identical. A, An and The are ignored.
Hints:
  1. List in your Works Cited only the entries which were actually cited within your text.
  2. Titles of books, periodicals, films, etc. are italicized (was underlined in the MLA 6th Edition.)
  3. All entries in the list of Works Cited, the Publication Medium (i.e. Print, Web, DVD, Television, etc.) must be included.
  4. Dates are written in MLA format, Day Month Year, with the longer months abbreviated. For example: 7 Feb. 1996.
  5. Indicate When Data is Missing: Many sources do not have a date, publisher or pagination. MLA advises, where applicable, to write n. pag. for those sources without page numbers, n.d. for no date, and n.p. if name of the publisher or place of publication is omitted.
  6. The URLs for web sources are now optional. MLA suggests not using them but recognizes that some educators might still require them. Therefore, ask your teacher if he/she requires URLs for your web sources.

Click on the example of a reference page for more information. Once the link opens, click on "REFERENCE LIST" for details on formatting in MLA style.

 Image of an MLA Works Cited Page

APA Format Sources

Purdue OWL: APA Foramtting: Creating a Works Cited Page

APA In-Text Citations

APA Paper Formatting

APA Reference Page Formatting

APA Reference Page Formatting
Page Format: Use the heading “References” centered one inch below the top edge of a new page, without underlining or quotation marks.
Spacing: Double-space throughout the list.
Sources: Cite only the sources you actually used in the paper.
Indentation: Do not indent the first line. Indent the second and subsequent lines of each entry 5 spaces or one-half inch
Alphabetizing: List the works alphabetically by author or by the first main word of the title if there is no author. Arrange two or more works by the same author from oldest to most recent, by year of publication.

Click on the example of a reference page for more information. Once the link opens, click on "REFERENCE LIST" for details on formatting in APA style. 

Image of APA References Page

Using Word to Manage and Cite Sources