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College Writing and Citing
Guides to Writing and Research
Guide to Grammar and Style by Jack Lynch, Rutgers University.
On the Web: Writing and Citing from the old Suburban Library System web site.
Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL)
The Writing Workshop from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Includes sections on writing, grammar, and bibliographies.
Evaluating Your Sources
Part of information literacy is knowing what sources are useful for what assignments. Below are some resources that can help you figure this out. Of course, you want to check with your instructor, as they are the final arbiter as to what kind of material is appropriate for each assignment.
Critically Analyzing Information Sources from Cornell University
Evaluating Sources of Information from Purdue's OWL
Evaluating Web Sites from Lesley University
Is It a Popular Magazine or a Scholary Journal? from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Primary Sources from Sonoma State University
Citing Your Sources (Documentation)
There are many different ways to cite or document the sources you refer to in a piece of writing. Three of the major documentation styles are
- APA, which is the style developed by the American Psychological Association. The social sciences often use APA style for documenting sources. More on APA Style.
- MLA, which is the style developed by the Modern Language Association. The humanities typically use MLA format to cite sources. More on MLA Style.
- Turabian, named for Kate Turabian who developed this style, is used in various disciplines, including history. This style is sometimes referred to as Chicago style since it is based on The Chicago Manual of Style. More on Turabian/Chicago Style.
- There are many more styles recommended by different disciplines. If your're not sure which style to use, look at Styles by Discipline, and consult your professor.
APA Style
APA Documentation Style from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center.
APA Style Guide from the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries.
Citing References from the Andersen Library at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Citing Sources from the Duke University Libraries. Concise information on how to cite common sources in APA, MLA, and Turabian styles.
Electronic Reference Formats Recommended by the American Psychological Association.
Using American Psychological Association (APA) Format from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 2001. Elmhurst College Library Reference R 808.06615P976 2001 c.1 . Ask for this at the Reference and Information Services Desk in the library.
MLA Style
Citing Sources from the Duke University Libraries. Concise information on how to cite common sources in APA, MLA, and Turabian styles.
Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Format from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 5th ed., 1999. Elmhurst College Library Reference R 808.042 M685Lp 1999. Ask for this at the Reference and Information Services Desk in the library.
Turabian/Chicago Style
Chicago/Turabian Style from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center.
Citing Sources from the Duke University Libraries. Concise information on how to cite common sources in APA, MLA, and Turabian styles.
ONLINE! Citation Styles: Turabian/Chicago.
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th ed., 1997. Elmhurst College Library Reference R 808.042 T929m6 1997. Ask for this at the Reference and Information Services Desk in the library.
Styles by Discipline
These are the styles generally recommended in these disciplines. Consult your professor if you are unsure which style to use.
Biology | Chemistry | Education | History | Humanities | Nursing | Political Science | Psychology | Social Sciences | Sociology
- Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers, 6th ed., 1994. Elmhurst College Library Reference R 808.0666 S416s 1994. Developed by the Council of Biology Editors for biology writers.
- CBE Citation Guide from the Ohio State University Libraries
- ONLINE! Citation Styles: CBE.
- The ACS Style Guide: A Manual for Authors and Editors, 2nd ed., 1997. Elmhurst College Library Reference R 808.06654 A187 1997. This is the style manual developed by the American Chemical Society for chemistry writers.
- American Chemical Society (ACS) Citation Style for Internet Sources from Penn State.
- ACS Guidelines for Documenting Sources from Ohiolink
Humanities (literature, philosophy, and the arts)
- The Political Science Student Writer's Manual, 3rd ed., 2000. Elmhurst College Library Reference R 808.06632 S426p 2000. Provides guidance for writing as well as documenting sources in political science.
- APSA (American Political Science Association) Style from the University of Wisconsin Writer's Handbook
- Often use APA (American Psychological Association) Style, though some disciplines, such as sociology, use different styles.
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ASA (American Sociological Association) Style Guide from Bucknell University
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ASA Format (American Sociological Association) from California State University at Los Angeles
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Formatting in Sociology from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
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Quick Style Guide for Students Writing Sociology Papers from the American Sociological Association has examples and guidelines for documents.