In your research, you will need to understand how to interpret the citations you find in indexes and bibliographies, as well as how to cite sources in your own bibliographies.

Interpreting Citations

A citation is a reference to a source of information. It should include enough identifying information, including such information as the author, title, and source, so that a reader can locate a copy of the item. Citations may reference any type of information including: 
 

Book  Essay or chapter in a book  Journal article  Magazine article  Newspaper article NSU MARP or practicum  Conference proceeding

Dissertation  Internet document  ERIC ED document Government document  Speech  Radio or television broadcast  Video or movie

Book Citation

 

HINT: When trying to determine whether the library owns a book, check NovaCat by searching for the author or title. 

Magazine Article Citation

HINT: When trying to determine whether the library owns a magazine, check NovaCat by searching for the title of the magazine rather than using the title of the article. 

Journal Article Citation

HINT: When trying to determine whether the library owns a journal, check NovaCat by searching for the title of the journal rather than using the title of the article. 

ERIC ED Document Citation

HINT: For information on locating ERIC Documents (EDs), see Sources for Full Text ERIC Documents in the ERIC tutorial. 

Citing Sources

You can use bibliography management software to help format and manage citations. NSU provides NSU students, faculty and staff with free access to EndNote, ProCite and Reference Manager. Learn more. An online tutorial is available for EndNote.

When you quote or paraphrase the idea of another person in your research paper or speech, you must provide a proper citation for the source in a bibliography or list of references. This gives credit to the author and enables the reader to locate the resource you cited. 

Providing references for sources you used also lends credibility to your work, especially if you use authoritative sources. 

If you use other people's ideas and do not give them credit by providing proper references to their work, you are committing plagiarism. Plagiarism is an honor code violation at NSU as well as a federal crime. 

Citation Styles

When citing sources, be sure to use a conventional bibliographic style. Most disciplines have a standard style that writers are expected to use. Each style will specify a uniform way of citing sources. 

APA Style

• How to Cite Sources: APA Style. This detailed tutorial Includes information on citing print and electronic sources.
  
  
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, DC: APA, 2001. (Main Library:  REF BF 76.7 P83 2001)
  
  
• Electronic Reference Formats Recommended by the APA, from the APA Web site.
  
  
• Publication Manual FAQ, Frequently Asked Questions About the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.), from the APA Web site.
  
  
• Documentation Guidelines for citing sources and avoiding plagiarism, from Duke University.



• Using American Psychological Association (APA) Format, from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab.

Chicago Style

• The Chicago Manual of Style. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993. (Main Library:  REF  Z 253 .U69 1993)
  
  
• A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 6th ed. by Kate Turabian. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. (Main Library:  REF LB 2369 .T8 1996)

MLA Style

• The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language Association of American, 2009. (Main Library:  REF LB 2369 .G53 2009
  
  
• MLA Formatting and Style Guide from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab.
  
  
• Documentation Guidelines for citing sources and avoiding plagiarism, from Duke University.