Resources for Distance Students

• Give credit to the ideas, words, and works of others
• Allow readers to find your sources
• Avoid plagiarism

Use this guide to help you formulate your citations and work cited page.

A citation style is a standard approach for documenting sources that you quote, consult, or summarize in your research papers. Proper use of citation styles helps you construct effective papers, share knowledge efficiently with others, and avoid plagiarism.

For most styles, you cite your sources in two places:

1) Within your paper - Immediately after using a source, include a parenthetical citation, footnote or endnote.

2) At the end of your paper - Assemble a complete list of your sources. This is known as a "Bibliography," "Reference List" or "Works Cited" section.

Different academic disciplines use different citation styles; your instructor may require you to use a particular style, or may allow you use one of your choosing. Below are online tools to help you get started with the citation styles most commonly used at Frostburg State University.

Knight Cite
Plug the information from your resource into the interactive web form and click to generate standard MLA and APA citations. Be sure to use the left navigation bar; developed by Calvin College.

Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
APA and MLA formatting and style guides including sample title pages, paper formatting and appendices for each style.

Below are covers and information on the most common of the Citation Styles used when writing research papers.

These are available in print in the Ort Library, if you are near the library and can visit in person.

If you live near another academic library, they most likely will have a copy in print. You can also check to see if your local public library has a copy available in print.

However, if you will be writing a lot of research papers/thesis/dissertation, you may want to purchase a print copy to have handy.