Cluster 70: Evolution of Cosmos and Life

It's important to cite the sources you used in your research. 

• Citing shows that you've done research - and spent time on the topic - by listing sources you used to get your information
• Citing is responsible scholarship. You're giving credit to other researchers and acknowledging their ideas. 
• By citing, you avoid plagiarism 
• You allow your reader to track down the sources you used by citing accurately 

Citing a source means that your show, within the body of your text, that you took words, ideas, figures, images, etc. from another source. 

Citations are a uniform way to uniquely identify a published work (book, article, chapter, website, podcast, video). 

All citations consist of standard elements necessary to track down published content, including:

• author name(s)
• title of book, article, journal, documentary, etc.
• date of publication
• page numbers
• volume and issue numbers (for articles)

The above information may be presented differently depending on what is being cited and which style was used to create them. Oftentimes, different instructors will let you know which citation style is important. Here's an example of an article citation using several different citation styles. Notice the common elements:

Author - Leila Sterman and Jason Clark

Article Title - Citations as Data: Harvesting the Scholarly Record of Your University to Enrich Institutional Knowledge and Support Research

Source Title - College & Research Libraries

Volume and Issue - Vol 78, issue 7

Publication Date - 11/2017

Page Numbers - 952-963

American Psychological Association (APA) Style:

Sterman, L., & Clark, J. (2017). Citations as Data: Harvesting the Scholarly Record of Your University to Enrich Institutional Knowledge and Support Research. College & Research Libraries, 78(7), 952-963. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.78.7.952

Modern Language Association (MLA) Style:

Sterman, Leila, and Jason Clark. “Citations as Data: Harvesting the Scholarly Record of Your University to Enrich Institutional Knowledge and Support Research.” College & Research Libraries, vol. 78, no. 7, Nov. 2017, pp. 952–63. Crossref, doi:10.5860/crl.78.7.952.

Chicago Manual of Style (author-date) Style: 

Sterman, Leila, and Jason Clark. 2017. “Citations as Data: Harvesting the Scholarly Record of Your University to Enrich Institutional Knowledge and Support Research.” College & Research Libraries 78 (7): 952-63. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.78.7.952.

IEEE Style:

L. Sterman and J. Clark, “Citations as Data: Harvesting the Scholarly Record of Your University to Enrich Institutional Knowledge and Support Research,” College & Research Libraries, vol. 78, no. 7, pp. 952–963, Nov. 2017, doi: 10.5860/crl.78.7.952.

You are required to cite:

• Facts, figures, ideas, or other information that is not common knowledge
• Ideas, words, theories, or exact language that another person has used in their publication
• Another person's exact words should be quoted and cited to show proper credit 

When in doubt -- cite your source!

Plagiarism occurs when you use another researcher's words or ideas without giving them credit. Words and ideas are classified as intellectual property, like a cell phone or car. Words and ideas belong to us and cannot be used without permission and credit. 

At UCLA, plagiarism is a serious offence with consequences attached. Learn more:

• UCLA Student Conduct Code
• Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It

  From Indiana University's Writing Tutorial Services.

• Plagiarism- Overview

  A resource from Purdue University.