LESSON 11 CONTENTS:

Learning Objectives

I. The Role of Sources in Research

II. Citing Your Sources

III. Plagiarism

IV. Documentation Styles

V. Key Points to Remember

Lesson Eleven Quiz

Lesson Eleven Exercise

IV. Documentation Styles

When citing your sources, you must follow a prescribed format known as a documentation style (sometimes called a citation style). Many documentation styles exist, varying according to academic discipline. The two most common documentation styles are:

• MLA style (Modern Language Association)
• APA style (American Psychological Association)

MLA style is commonly used for research papers in English and humanities courses, while APA style is often used in psychology and the social sciences. Some instructors specify which style to follow, while other teachers leave it up to the student to decide.

The precise format (i.e. punctuation rules) for citing sources (along with other information about the mechanics of writing and presenting your research paper) is described in books called style manuals. For example, the Modern Language Association style manual is entitled the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

Every style manual will tell you how to cite a source within the body of your paper (either through a parenthetical reference or a footnote), and how to cite them in a bibliography at the end of your paper. Style manuals are available as separately published books, and summaries of documentation styles are available on the Internet.