CITING AUTHORS and avoiding PLAGIARISM is both good manners and the law. What is written usually follows in the footsteps, or at least the path, of those whom have gone before. The most common reason persons accused of plagiarism give is that they had not taken adequate notes to identify the source of an idea or statement. Sloppy scholarship, like sloppy workmanship, is never acceptable. Therefore, it is important to be meticulous in listing references used and to give credit for quotations and ideas.

The first step in this process is to take accurate notes on each source of information as you use it. This means writing down the complete CITATION - author, title, source, publisher, year and any other identifying information.

Remember it is easier to do it at the time you read the item, than to try to back track to get this information when you are writing a paper.  This includes journal articles which you photocopy and webpages which you print. Not all journal publishers include the journal name, volume, number and year with each article or as a header or footer on alternate pages. Not all computers are set up to print the URL or the database or webpage which you print.  Check for the necessary information and write it down.

STYLE MANUALS

There are several general style manuals used by students and other writers.  Some professional associations, such as the American Psychological Association, publish style manuals for their publications. The APA Publication Manual is widely used in colleges for term papers.  The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers is another widely used guide, as are Scientific Style and Format, The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors and Publishers and The Chicago Manual of Style.  Many Mount Mercy College instructors require one of these for work submitted. 

Most journals and magazines have there own style guides for contributors. Newspapers usually use the Associated Press Stylebook. The important thing is to use the style required by the publication or instructor. Whatever style is used, it is necessary to be consistent with all the conventions of that style.

Some of the differences in style which may be found are:

1. use of complete first names or initials.
2. use of parentheses around specific parts of the citation.
3. placement of the date of publication.
4. underlining titles.
5. quotation marks around titles.
6. titles in italics.
7. specific abbreviations.
8. style of volume, issue and page numbers.
9. punctuation.