Citing Sources: MLA, APA, Chicago, CSE
Why Cite?
When you use somebody else’s words or ideas, you are borrowing their intellectual property. Give credit where it is due, because if you don’t you could be accused of plagiarism – a punishable offense. Also, if somebody wants to learn more about your topic, they can look up the sources you list on your Works Cited page and read them for themselves.
Because researching for a paper or speech is a learning process it is expected that students will sometimes borrow an author’s words and ideas for their own final product. Citation is the formal acknowledgement that you have done so. The form the citation takes will depend upon the academic discipline for which you are doing the research project.
MLA Style
MLA formatting and citation may be the required style for English, Literature, and Language Arts courses at SVCC. The MLA Handbook 9th edition was published in 2021.
Sauk Valley Community College MLA Citation & Formatting Guide
- Citing Sources; About MLA Style; MLA In-Text Citations; Works Cited Core Elements; Works Cited Examples; MLA Paper Format
- Explanations, examples, links to MLA online resources
MLA Resources
MLA Style Center
- Information about the new 9th edition and links to resources that will help you with writing, research, and citation.
Formatting Your Research Project
- Detailed guidelines for formatting a document in MLA style.
Interactive Practice Template
- Learn how to build a citation in MLA format.
Ask the MLA
- Submit a question or browse the list of frequently asked questions.
Citations by Format
- Examples that demonstrate how to cite books, articles, videos, and more.
APA Style
APA formatting and citation may be the required style for Social Sciences and Health Professions courses at SVCC. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 7th edition and the Concise Guide to APA Style 7th edition were published in 2020.
Sauk Valley Community College APA Citation & Formatting Guide
Citing Sources; About APA Style; APA In-Text Citations; APA References Citations; Social Sciences Research
- Explanations, examples, links to APA online resources
APA Resources
APA Style Website
- Open the Style and Grammar Guidelines menu.
Paper Format
- Links to information about formatting the document, creating the title page, and sample papers.
In-Text Citations
- Basic principles and avoiding plagiarism, quoting and paraphrasing, parenthetical and narrative citations.
References
- Examples that demonstrate how to cite books, articles, videos, and more.
More Citation Resources
See also the Helpful Tools and Resources page on the LC WRiting Center website.
Chicago Style
Chicago Style formatting and citation may be the required style for some Humanities courses at SVCC. The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) 17th edition was published in 2017 and establishes standards for formatting a document and citing sources in scholarly publishing in literature, history, and the arts.
Resources for Chicago Style
Chicago Manual of Style Online
- Sample citations for common information formats in Notes & Bibliography Style and Author-Date Style.
Council of Science Editors (CSE) Style
CSE Style formatting and citation may be the required style for some Biology courses at SVCC. Scientific Style and Format 8th edition was published in 2014 and establishes standards for formatting a document and citing sources in scholarly publishing in Biology.
Resources for CSE Style
Scientific Style and Format Citation Quick Guide
- Instructions and examples for citing sources in common information formats, in three systems: citation-sequence system, name-year system, and citation-name system.
Council of Science Editors Documentation Style
- More information and details about CSE from the UW Madison Writing Lab