Documenting Sources
The MLA's (Modern Language Association's) handbook
for writers of research papers states that: "Nearly all
research builds on previous research," and that "whenever
you draw on another's work, you must also document your source
by indicating what you borrowedwhether facts, opinions,
or quotationsand where you borrowed it from" (114
Gibaldi, Joseph, ed. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research
Papers. New York: MLA, 1999).
In academic writing, it is important to insert
your paper into a scholarly debate within your discipline
by reporting and building on the work of previous scholars.
It is crucial to cite and document the sources of all ideas
or statements within your work which are not your own. Just
as you would want to receive credit for your own ideas, so
you should give credit to those whose ideas you use. Your
academic work is your property, and when that work is stolen
and passed off as another's, it is called plagiarism,
and not only violates the Rice
Honor Code, but is illegal.
There are three main styles of documenting sources
which you will most likely encounter during your academic
career. The first is MLA style and is outlined in the handbook
quoted from above. The above quote is also an example of MLA
style, where the source for a quote or idea is given parenthetically
immediately following the quotation or your paraphrase. The
work as a whole is then listed in your bibliography or works
cited page at the end of your paper. Another popular academic
style is called Chicago Style, from The Chicago Manual
of Style. This style most often appears in academic journals
in the humanities and primarily consists of documenting sources
through footnotes within a paper, or endnotes at the paper's
conclusion. Finally, APA (American Psychological Association)
style is most commonly used in the sciences and social sciences.
Below,
you will find links leading you to pages which explain how
to use these three different styles and other tips for documenting
sources within your papers.
Detailed
information on where, when, and how to cite sources
Documenting
electronically-accessed sources
APA
style
MLA style
Chicago style
Return to Academic Writing Index
Return to Top
