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Visual Arts: Style Manual & Research Tips

How do I cite?

What is a citation?

A citation...

  • describes a book, journal article, website, or other item

  • gives credit to the originator of an idea

  • enables the reader to access the cited item.

You must cite a source that you are using if you paraphrase or summarize any of the ideas given in the work AND if you use a direct quote from the resource (word-for-word).  Citations are not just for word-for-word quotations; they must be used when you mention any ideas or information from a source.

Enhancing Your Skills

Writing Support Online

The Excelsior Online Writing Lab, hosted by Excelsior College, can help you with each step of your writing assignments. Below is the website's navigation tab listing every aspect covered.

 

Keys to Avoiding Plagiarism

To avoid plagiarizing:

  • Paraphrase: put the ideas from the text COMPLETELY into your own words. Even when paraphrasing you must still use in-text citations as well as including it in the works cited section.

  • Use quotation marks around text that has been taken directly from the original source.

  • Cite every source of information you use in your paper unless it is common knowledge (i.e. the sky is blue) or the results of your own research.

Citation Manuals

Every discipline has their own citation style, however, every person/professor is different and they may have a preference for a different citation style, or prefer that you use an older format for citations.  The books below are examples of the texts that can assist you with properly citing your sources.

Bibliographies & Dictionaries

Online Writing Support-Prudue Owl

The Purdue Owl Online Writing Lab has extensive information to assist with writing papers.