HIST 114: Cite Sources

MLA (Modern Language Association) citation styleis most commonly used to write papers and cite sources in literature and the humanities.

• Works Cited list: Include a full list of your sources at the end of your paper.
• In-text citations: Use in-text citations when you quote, paraphrase, or summarize to let the reader know that the information comes from another source.

See the MC Library guide on MLA Citations or one of the other resources below for more information.
Always check with your course instructor to verify which style you should use when writing a paper.

Note: Resources for both MLA 8th edition (2016) and MLA 9th edition (2021) are linked below.

APA (American Psychological Association) citation styleis most commonly used to write papers and cite sources in psychology, social sciences, and health disciplines.

• Reference list: Include a full list of your sources at the end of your paper.
• In-text citations: Use in-text citations when you quote, paraphrase, or summarize to let the reader know that the information comes from another source.

See the MC Library guide on APA Citations or one of the other resources below for more information.
Always check with your course instructor to verify which style you should use when writing a paper.

Chicago Manual of Style citation and format styleis most commonly used to write papers and cite sources in literature, history, and the arts. Chicago offers two systems of documentation:

• Notes and Bibliography
  • Bibliography: Include a full list of your sources at the end of your paper.
  • Notes: Include a note (footnote or endnote) when you you quote, paraphrase, or summarize to let the reader know that the information comes from another source. Use a superscript number in the body of the paper that corresponds to the footnote or endnote.
• Author-Date:
  • Reference list: Include a full list of your sources at the end of your paper.
  • In-text citations: Use in-text citations when you quote, paraphrase, or summarize to let the reader know that the information comes from another source.

See the resources below for more information.

Always check with your course instructor to verify which style you should use when writing a paper.

The final step in the research cycle is to cite your sources. This step shows your reader that you've done proper research by listing sources you used to get your information.

Citing sources provides credibility to your ideas and places them in an academic context. It is also an important part of academic integrity. Giving credit to other researchers and acknowledging their ideas avoids plagiarism.

MC Writing, Reading, & Language Centers
Tutors at the WRL Centers can provide feedback on your writing, including questions on properly citing your sources.

Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
Includes tutorials, sample papers, and sample bibliographies for all major citation styles.

MC Academic Integrity Resources