How Do I ?
"Citing in Style"
Are you writing a paper? Do you need help with citation in text or works cited page format?
Library Reference Books:
APA (American Psychological Association) format is the preferred citing format for Psychology, Sociology, Business, Nursing, Criminology, Science, and Law.
REF BF 76.7 .P83 2001
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
5th ed. Washington, DC: APA, 2001.
MLA (Modern Language Association) is the preferred citing format for Humanities, Art, History, Interior Design, Literature, Music, etc.
REF LB 2369 .G53 1999
Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
5th ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1999.
Internet References:
There are many INTERNET websites that can help with paper preparation and that provide style and citation guides using APA and MLA formats. Here is a list of some we recommend:
Selected websites for APA style:
Selected websites for MLA style:
Electronic Sources
Websites for citation of Electronic Resources:
A question that is commonly asked at the library is "How do I cite something that I found on the Internet?" Although a standard format has not emerged, there are quite a few options for students and faculty members to choose from. What follows is a selected list of Web sites that have guidelines for citing sources found on the Internet.
Evaluating Information on the Web
The emergence of the Internet has dramatically changed the way term papers and reports are written. The advent of full-text databases, remote access to publications, and automated library catalogs has transformed the research process.
The World Wide Web has become the researcher's biggest blessing, and curse. We can now access an incomprehensible amount of information at our fingertips, 24/7. Unfortunately what we find is often information in the raw. Typically the information is not categorized, evaluated for accuracy, checked for bias, or ensured to be timely. Even the savvy researcher must be on guard when using information found on the Web. All researchers run the risk of incorporating inappropriate information into their papers if they lack the skills that would allow them to evaluate the information that they find on the Web.
What follows are some basic guidelines that will help us all become better evaluators and consumers of information in the Web.
Applying Critical Thinking Skills to the Web, Basic Steps You Can take
Purpose and Intent
The most basic questions you can ask are; what is the intent of the information being provided? Why are the providers using the Web to communicate these ideas? And who is the audience that the author had in mind?
A key to answering these questions can be found in the Web site's URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Most people are familiar with Web address endings of .com, .edu, .net, .gov, and .org. But do they realize that what these designations mean? Below is a quick overview with some insights;
.com This is the most common domain, used primarily by for-profit businesses. Keep in mind that these sites exist only to promote products and business services. Although useful information can be found on .com sites, some are little more than commercial advertisements.
.gov This designation is used by U.S. government agencies. In general the information found on these sites is as reliable and current as any printed information that is distributed by the federal government. Generally these sites are a safe bet.
.edu This is used by colleges and universities. Keep in mind that less reputable colleges and fraudulent research institutes can have the .edu domain. Also a tilde (~) followed by a faculty member's name or campus group in the URL may mean that this is a personal page and the institution does not stand by its content.
.org This designation is used primarily by nonprofit organizations. Look closely at the organization's purpose or stated mission as this will effect the bias and objectivity of the site's content. This is good advice even when looking at well-known national organizations.
.net This domain can be a catch all, as it is commonly used by sites of all types that are being hosted by an internet service provider. The best advice is to be aware that you could be dealing with a for-profit, nonprofit, or educational site.
Emerging domain designations: The ever growing number of sites that populate the Internet has created the need to establish several new domain designations. Domains that end in .info for information sites, .biz for business sites, and .pro for professional services sites are starting to come online. The list on new domain names will probably grow and will require close scrutiny.
Identify the Sponsor
Determining who sponsors a Web site will help you to evaluate the information that you are looking at. Look closely at a site's sponsors, learn their ideological stances and values. This information can often be found on a Web site's "About Us" or "Mission" page. Reputable sponsors usually include their phone number and mailing address on the site. Be on the lookout for contradictions between what the sponsor claims the site is about, and what is actually on the site and what is offered for related external links.
Determine the Author
Web sites often provide large amounts of information without attributing it to a specific author. If possible contact a site's web master to find out if information can be attributed to a specific author. When authors are attributed see if you can find any additional writings using other indexes and databases in the library. Web sites that provide author contact information (e-mail or phone numbers) are usually more credible.
Determine the Scope
The scope of a Web site, or how deep topics are covered, may determine whether or not you will use information from a particular site. The breadth and depth of the information provided on a web site is determined in part by the site's intended audience. Some web sites target professionals, and some target the general public. When several sites are found on the same topic, compare scopes and choose the site that bests suites your needs.
A way to quickly determine a web site's scope is to look at the site's table of contents, or "Site Map." The Site Map may also be a quick way to see if a site's scope matches its stated mission. Major inconsistencies may be an indication that the site may not be the best one to use.
Accuracy
Evaluating content accuracy can be difficult but it is an extremely important skill. This is especially true for individuals researching topics in which they are unfamiliar. Content may take a back seat to aesthetically pleasing graphics and technological bells and whistles. Grammatical and spelling errors are warnings that information may not be accurate. Identify, and avoid, Web sites that post dramatic claims, use inflammatory rhetoric, make outrageous and misleading statements.
Sites that provide bibliographic citations for information provided tend to be more accurate. Evaluate the accuracy of the links that are provided. To some extent, a site is only as accurate as the links that visitors are led to.
Currency
It is important to gage how current the information is on a web site. If the site does not provide bibliographies, or date the material in some other way, this can be a difficult task. Look for an indication of when the last time the site has been updated. Better sites will tell you on the their main page.
A web site that has many dead links (links that don't lead to active pages) may be neglected and is an indication that information is outdated.
Check Out These Sites:
For more information on applying critical thinking to the Web, and Web site evaluation, follow the links below:
