Keep track of the sources you use for your research so you can cite them in your paper and bibliography. It is very important to cite your sources to provide appropriate credit for the ideas of other researchers to avoid plagiarism. You will create a citation whenever you use the words (direct quote) or ideas (paraphrase) from another author. Failing to do so is a violation of the K-State Honor Code.
You may be asked to use a specific format for your citations, like APA or MLA. These are just different ways of organizing the information about your source.
Many databases have a "cite" link on the records that will help you create a citation in the appropriate format, but be sure to proofread - it isn't perfect!
Find more citation tools on our Citations and Bibliographies research guide.
Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) is a good resource for more information about citation formats.
MLA (Modern Language Association) is the most common citation style in the liberal arts and humanities.
APA (American Psychological Association) is the most common citation style in the social sciences.
This online citation guide contains resources regarding citing, writing, and formatting papers in APA style.