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ENG1500: Experiences in Literature: Citing Sources

When to cite

A good scholar cites the source of information whenever using another person's ideas, opinion or theory. A good scholar also provides citations for any facts, statistics, graphs, or drawings that are obtained from another source. Quotations or paraphrases of another person's spoken or written word should also be cited.

Online Help with Citations

 

Most of the databases of the Cheng Library include a "Cite" function in the tools menu. To use this tool, click on the "Cite" link while the article citation is displayed on the screen.  A separate window will open.  Select the citation style for your research paper.
 
Literature usually uses MLA or Chicago styles.  Then copy and paste the citation into your Notes or Word document. 
 
Because these citations are computer-generated, always the check the citation for potential errors.


 

Citation and Style Guides

General Citation Resources

MLA (Modern Language Association) Style

Turabian/Chicago Style

Other Guides

The links followed by this icon: Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format lead to Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) files. PDF files are scanned reproductions of original documents that can be viewed and printed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software, which is available as a free download from Adobe.

The MLA Citation Style

Literature research papers will usually require the citation style developed by the Modern Language Association, MLA, for formatting the paper and citing the sources.  Always ask your professor if this style is required or preferred. The Cheng Library has the book that documents this style.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers 7th edition, 2009

Reference LB2369 .G53 2009

 (Two copies are available at the Reference Desk. One copy can be found on the second floor that you can check out.)

The Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) offers a detailed guide for the MLA style with many examples for citing different types of resources.

 

Sample citations

The attached document shows sample citations in MLA Style, 7th edition. The second page shows the layout for a reference list. Please note the spacing.