Evaluating and Citing Sources for Research
Can I use any Website for research?
How do I cite my sources?
MLA Citation Video
When using another person's information or creation for a research paper or other school project, you must give credit to your source. In Wake County Public Schools the accepted format for documenting sources is Modern Language Association (MLA) style. Each type of source (book, encyclopedia, newspaper, magazine, database article, webpage article, etc.) has its own particular format.
What should you cite?
How Do You Cite Sources in MLA Format?
Online Citation Tools: These web tools can create citations for you, however, you must proofread and fill in missing information.
Citation Machine
Easy Bib
MLA Citation Maker
MLA Citation Examples
Book examples:
Book with an author:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Book Title. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Copyright Date. Print.
Your citation should look like this:
Kurlansky, Mark. World Without Fish. New York: Workman Publishing Company, Inc, 2011. Print.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Book with editors:
Editor’s Last Name, First Name, eds. Book Title. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Copyright Date. Print.
Your citation should look like this:
Martin, Waldo E., and Patricia Sullivan, eds. Civil Rights in the United States. New York: Macmillan, 2000. Print.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Web site examples:
Website WITH an author:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Source/Website Title, Date last updated. Date you read the page. Web. <http://www.etc. >
Your citation should look like this:
Peterson, Susan Lynn. “The Life of Martin Luther.” Miami University, 2005. 10 Mar. 2016. Web. <http://www.susanlynnpeterson.com/index_files/luther.htm>.
Website WITHOUT an author or copyright date—just leave those elements out.
Your citation should look like this:
“11 Facts About the Holocaust.” Dosomething.org. 10 Mar. 2016. Web. <https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-holocaust>.
Online Databases (NC WiseOwl): Use the citation tool in these databases to copy and paste your citation.
Your finished Works Cited page should look like this:
Works Cited
“11 Facts About the Holocaust.” Dosomething.org. 10 Mar. 2016. Web. <https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about- holocaust>.
Kurlansky, Mark. World Without Fish. New York: Workman Publishing Company, Inc, 2011. Print.
Peterson, Susan Lynn. “The Life of Martin Luther.” Miami University, 2005. 10 Mar. 2016. Web. <http://www.susanlynnpeterson.com/index_files/luther.htm>.
Images from a Web Site
Image citations/attribution can be placed directly under the image in a presentation.
For all images used, students must, at a minimum, include:
MLA Citation Video
When using another person's information or creation for a research paper or other school project, you must give credit to your source. In Wake County Public Schools the accepted format for documenting sources is Modern Language Association (MLA) style. Each type of source (book, encyclopedia, newspaper, magazine, database article, webpage article, etc.) has its own particular format.
What should you cite?
- All books and websites from which you take ideas (quoted or paraphrased).
- All images or graphics you use in presentations or on posters.
- Any music you use in a presentation or performance. Fair Use Guidelines, allow you to use only 30 seconds of a song.
How Do You Cite Sources in MLA Format?
Online Citation Tools: These web tools can create citations for you, however, you must proofread and fill in missing information.
Citation Machine
Easy Bib
MLA Citation Maker
MLA Citation Examples
Book examples:
Book with an author:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Book Title. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Copyright Date. Print.
Your citation should look like this:
Kurlansky, Mark. World Without Fish. New York: Workman Publishing Company, Inc, 2011. Print.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Book with editors:
Editor’s Last Name, First Name, eds. Book Title. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Copyright Date. Print.
Your citation should look like this:
Martin, Waldo E., and Patricia Sullivan, eds. Civil Rights in the United States. New York: Macmillan, 2000. Print.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Web site examples:
Website WITH an author:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Source/Website Title, Date last updated. Date you read the page. Web. <http://www.etc. >
Your citation should look like this:
Peterson, Susan Lynn. “The Life of Martin Luther.” Miami University, 2005. 10 Mar. 2016. Web. <http://www.susanlynnpeterson.com/index_files/luther.htm>.
Website WITHOUT an author or copyright date—just leave those elements out.
Your citation should look like this:
“11 Facts About the Holocaust.” Dosomething.org. 10 Mar. 2016. Web. <https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-holocaust>.
Online Databases (NC WiseOwl): Use the citation tool in these databases to copy and paste your citation.
Your finished Works Cited page should look like this:
Works Cited
“11 Facts About the Holocaust.” Dosomething.org. 10 Mar. 2016. Web. <https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about- holocaust>.
Kurlansky, Mark. World Without Fish. New York: Workman Publishing Company, Inc, 2011. Print.
Peterson, Susan Lynn. “The Life of Martin Luther.” Miami University, 2005. 10 Mar. 2016. Web. <http://www.susanlynnpeterson.com/index_files/luther.htm>.
Images from a Web Site
Image citations/attribution can be placed directly under the image in a presentation.
For all images used, students must, at a minimum, include:
- The creator/owner of the image (if it can be determined)
- The name of the image (or a description)
- The name of the site where the image was found (Google Images is NOT a source)
- The complete website address/URL of the page where the image is published