General Citation Information
    
      Citation: An act of quoting. (“Citation”)
    
      When preparing to write a document with an assigned topic, it is 
      assumed that several information outlets will be researched 
      while gathering information.
       Take careful notes during the research process.
       Keep track of all sources that directly influence the information used in the 
        document.
    
      To avoid plagiarism, it is imperative to give recognition to the 
      individuals from which information was borrowed.
       Known as citing sources, each source must be listed at the end of the 
        document.
       Plagiarize: to steal and pass off the ideas or words of another as one’s own. 
        (“Plagiarize”)
           General Citation Information
   
    Not only is it important to cite sources, but also to do so 
    in the correct manner. Two important formats used are:
     Modern Language Association (MLA)
     American Psychological Association (APA)
   
    It is at the instructor’s discretion to decide which format 
    to use. Always check with the instructor first to see which 
    format should be used.
             MLA and APA Basic Knowledge
   
     What is MLA?
      MLA is a standardized format for written communication that focuses on 
       page layout, stylistic technicalities, and citing sources in a document. It is 
       used in the humanities field in subjects such as art, literature, and 
       history, and is primarily directed toward an audience of graduate 
       students, academic scholars, professors, professional writers, and 
       editors. 
   
     What is APA?
      APA is a standardized format for written communication that focuses on 
       the content organization, writing style, and references in a document. It 
       is used in the fields of social and natural sciences, and is found in use in 
       term papers, research reports, case studies, and theoretical articles, 
       among others.
                                           Differences of MLA and APA
                                       Modern Language Association (MLA)                           American Psychological Association (APA)
                                  Used for humanities: art, literature, history                 Used in social and natural sciences
                                  Requires in-text citations (author’s last name and page)      Requires in-text citations (author’s last name, year, and 
                                  for quotations, paraphrases, or summaries of material         page) for quotations, paraphrasing, and references to 
                                  from print sources                                            specific passages (pages not required for general 
                                                                                                references)
                                  Alphabetizes sources on a double-spaced Works Cited           Alphabetizes sources on a double-spaced References 
                                  page                                                          page
                                  Emphasizes the author and the title of publication by         Emphasizes the author and the date of the publication 
                                  placing them near the beginning of the entry                  by placing them near the beginning of the entry
                                  Follows conventional capitalization rules for article         Does not capitalize all words in book and article titles, 
                                  titles                                                        but does capitalize names of magazines and journals
                                  Prints full first names                                       Initializes the authors’ first names
                                  Abbreviates months (except for May, June, and July)           Does not abbreviate months
                                  Requires states in publication location, except for the       Does not require states to be included in publication 
                                  following U.S. cities: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Los        location
                                  Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco. (There 
                                  are also some international cities that may be listed 
                                  without country.) (If the publisher is a university and 
                                  the name of the state is included in the name of the 
                                  university, do not repeat the name in the publisher 
                                  location.)
                                                                                                                                                               (Ivy Tech, 2008, p. 10)
              Overview of In-Text Citations
   
     In-text citations are found at the end of direct quotations 
     and paragraphs where information was borrowed or 
     otherwise paraphrased.
   
     In-text citations guide the reader to find more 
     information about the source used.
      In MLA, full citation information must be placed at the end of the 
       document on a Works Cited page.
      In APA, full citation information must be placed at the end of the 
       document on a References page.
      Providing a page number helps to direct the reader to the exact 
       location of the borrowed information, should they consult it.