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Why Cite Sources?
It's important to cite the sources for several reasons. The first is to show that you have done you've conducted the appropriate research for your topic. The second is to give credit to the words and ideas published by your sources' authors. The third, is to make it easy for the reader to find the source for themselves.
Citations are used to identify a work that has been published - a book, article, chapter, web site). Style refers to the way a citation is laid out or organized on the page, MLA, APA, and Chicago are three common citation styles used by college students and each one is laid out a little bit differently than the others.
Different academic disciplines have specific guidelines for organizing material and citing sources. These rules are published as style manuals. While each citation system is distinct, the underlying rationale is the same–to facilitate written communication among members in a scholarly community.
Using Database Citation Tools
Most databases include citations tools that allow you to copy/paste the citation to a n article or other item. But heads up! Be aware that if you copy/paste a citation from a database, some citations in database contain errors, most often with incorrect capitalization. And sometimes when you past your citation into your paper, the italics revert to regular format. Double-check your citation against a style guide. Your job as the author of your work is to make the corrections before you turn them in.
