Citation Styles
Different styles of documentation are used in different subject disciplines.
The most important citation styles are:
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Chicago/Turabian
- Council of Biology Editors (CBE)
- Modern Language Association (MLA)
The Owl at Purdue, Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (see below), is an excellent web guide to these styles and more.
Handbooks covering each citation style in detail are available at the FHG Reference Desk and the FHG Library Reserve Desk.
The Owl at Purdue
This online site includes tips on academic writing, avoiding plagiarism, and guides to citation styles.
Chicago Manual of Style Online
Electronic Reference Formats Recommended by the American Psychological Association
An authorized publication of the APA.
MLA Style
"These guidelines on MLA documentation style are the only ones available on the Internet that are authorized by the Modern Language Association of America."
ONLINE! Citation Styles Index
A good site providing examples of four citation styles: APA (American Psychological Association), CBE (Council of Biological Editors), MLA (Modern Language Association), and University of Chicago. This site is Web version of the book ONLINE! A Reference Guide for Using Internet Sources by A. Harnack and E. Kleppinger.
Evaluating Web Pages
Web Pages require the same (or more) caution as any other source.
Do not assume statements are true. Verify them.
If you can't verify a statement, at least have a reasonable justification for using it.
Ask questions such as:
1. Who is responsible for the pages?
What is their authority?
Is there any reason to think the author knows what he or she is talking about?
What are the author's credentials?
How does the author indicate his/her experience?
Is the page connected to a reputable institution?
Remember the fact that a page is on a website sponsored by an institution does not mean the information on that page is approved by that institution.
Is there bias?
Does the page reflect a particular point of view?
Is the page selling something?
Is the page connected to an institution, party, or group that is likely to have some bias?
2. Are the pages up-to-date?
Many web pages are dated. Check the bottom of the page.
3. Are there mistakes?
Read the page. Obvious mistakes of fact, grammar, spelling, etc. cast doubt on the value of the information presented.
Documentation and Plagiarism
It is the responsibility of every writer to
acknowledge his or her sources by citing them appropriately.
In non-fiction this means the inclusion of footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography.
Purpose of Documentation
- To inform the reader of the exact source of facts, quotations, or approaches used.
- To give credit to the source of words, ideas, and approaches
- The intent is to allow the reader to find what the author used to create his or her work.
- If you have to choose between giving less or more information, give more.
The purpose of documentation is to allow others find what you have found.
Plagiarism
- Anyone who uses the work of another without giving proper credit is guilty of plagiarism.
- Plagiarism is not simply a matter of failing to cite a quotation.
- You must acknowledge by citation when you are using someone else's words, ideas, organization, or approach.
- Plagiarism is one of the most serious forms of academic dishonesty and can result in expulsion from the University.
(see Ram's Eye View, Academic Dishonesty, p. 100.)
