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Equine Park - Library Home: Recognising sources

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Why citation and bibliography matters...

There are many reasons why it is important to cite the resources that you consult when researching a paper. The most important of these are:

  • Gives credit to authors whose works you have used (whether you quote them or not).
  • Provides a trail by which others can locate the materials you consulted.
  • Provides evidence of your research.
  • Properly citing materials is one strategy to help you avoid plagiarizing.

Citation Style

There are many different citation styles the most prevalent are:

  • American Psychological Association Style (APA) - the most common style in the social sciences (psychology, education, sociology etc.)
  • Modern Language Association Style (MLA) - used in English and in some other disciplines in the humanities

For any school research project your teacher will indicate the preferred citation style.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is using another person's work without giving them credit. To avoid plagiarism: