Many fields require a large amount of reading in order to keep current, so it saves time if the material is all in the same "language" or format. Over time, most academic disciplines have settled upon a preferred citation style for writings.
The three most common citation styles at Seminole State include APA, Chicago, and MLA styles. The sections below will introduce you to those styles and provide resources to help you master them. If you are unsure of which citation style to use, consult your professor.
APA style is often used for writing in the fields of psychology, business, communications, nursing, history and social sciences. APA stands for the American Psychological Association.
APA Style Online Guides
APA Style Guide Book
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition) by
Available at all Library locations.
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition is the official source for APA Style.
Chicago style citations are unique in that it includes two documentation systems. The first is known as the humanities (notes and bibliography) style and is more often used in the fields of arts and humanities. The second is the author-date system, used more often in the natural sciences.
Chicago Style Online Guides
Chicago Style Guide Book
The Chicago Manual of Style by MLA style is a commonly used style found in the humanities including language and literature. MLA is an acronym for Modern Language Association.
MLA Style Online Guides
MLA Style Guide Book
MLA Handbook (9th edition) by
"The ninth edition of the MLA Handbook is a textbook and reference guide that offers student writers and writing instructors guidance on creating works-cited-list entries in MLA style using the template of core elements. It features advice on punctuation, grammar, inclusive language, formatting research papers, and in-text citations. Includes an appendix of sample works-cited-list entries, illustrations, and an index"
Good research projects combine data from a variety of sources and carefully document the sources of information and ideas. Research documentation usually appears in two parts: short in-text citations occurring within the actual paper and a longer, complete list of works at the end of the paper called a bibliography, reference list, or works cited page.
Besides giving credit to the source of information or ideas, there are other great reasons to cite in your research project:
Note: a hyperlink or URL included in the text is not the same as a citation. Ex: "Higher gas prices are on the way (cnn.com/specialreport)." URLs in the text, while common on the internet, are not considered a correct form of scholarly citation.