Cite a Source

Writer's block got you down?  The Writer's Workshop can help you with writing your paper; their site contains resources covering most grammar and writing needs. The University of Victoria Writer's Guide is a dynamic database suitable for answering most writing questions. The classic guide on usage, composition and form for the English language, William Strunk Jr.'s Elements of Style (1918 ed.), is available to you in full-text. And lastly, when faced with the stickiest of citation questions, The Slot: A Spot for Copy Editors may be able to help you with APA-related questions.

How can I get help with citation styles?

LEARN Two: Citation Styles

Usually a professor will tell you if there is a preferred citation style for your research project. With numerous citation styles to choose from, the Reference Library's Citing Print and Electronic Resources can assist you with the details of how to cite both print and online materials. If you have questions regarding citing electronic resources, please visit IPL's Citing Electronic Sources.

What can I use to organize my citations?

LEARN Three: Citation Management

Citation management programs allow you to organize and retrieve information sources. These sources can range from articles and books to websites and podcasts. RefWorks is a web-based citation management tool that is free for all students and faculty at University of Illinois. It works with databases and the online library catalog to import citations into your own personal database. You can organize your citations by topic in folders, share your citations with your colleagues or peers, and you can easily print bibliographies. For more information, watch this RefWorks tutorial. If you are a dedicated EndNote user, you can use these connection files. One more solution that may be useful for you is Zotero, a Firefox extension that is great for capturing and archiving screenshots.

Everything is organized-but what about my bibliography?

LEARN Four: Write N Cite

Would you like to format a bibliography in seconds? Write N Cite allows you to insert references directly into Microsoft Word, using the citation style of your choice. This will work on a PC or a Mac. For more information about Write N Cite, please visit the RefWorks FAQ or take a library workshop.

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