How to Cite Sources in a Research Paper

There are many different ways to cite research sources. This method - parenthetical citation - is currently most in favor.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dictionaries
• Writing Style Manuals
• Caffeinated Beverages
• Bibliography Software
• Classes On Writing A Research Paper

1. Start with nothing in your bibliography, and build it based on your parenthetical citations. This will ensure that you haven't listed any sources you didn't cite, and that you haven't cited any sources you didn't list.

2. Put the last name of the author and the year of publication in parentheses after the relevant piece of text, as in: "Crime dropped 10% between 1995 and 1999 (Croft, 1999)." The comma is optional.

3. Add the page number(s), if necessary, after a colon, as in: "(Offerman, 1968: 33)."

4. Check your bibliography to make sure the source is listed in it.

5. Distinguish between sources written in the same year by the same author; add lower-case letters in chronological order. Thus "(O'Leary, 1993a)" is earlier than "(O'Leary, 1993b)."

6. Consult a style guide, such as the MLA (Modern Language Association) manual of style, for further details.

Tips & Warnings

• Use bibliography software to help keep track of and cite sources. Several such programs are available, and can save a lot of time and energy.
• Consider taking a class on writing a research paper.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.

[thedigs]

on 5/3/2008 How would i make a parenthetical citation of a parenthetical citation in my psychology textbook to use in my research paper?

on 1/9/2008 There are 3 main styles used in college and community college today; MLA, CME, and APA. Of these formats, most are unfamiliar with the APA formatting style. For a concise guide on how to use this style, visit the American Psychology Association website.

on 11/22/2005 Write your bibliography before you start writing the paper. That way, the most painful part is already done, and when you have to cite sources in the body of the essaythey will be easily accessible in the document you are writing the paper in.