There are quite a few different ways to properly cite resources in your paper. The citation style usually depends on the academic discipline involved. For example:
In this class, APSA (American Political Science Association) style will be used.
Some departments or individual professors create modified versions of citation styles that they expect you to follow as well.
Bottom line: Check with your professor to make sure you use the style required for that class. And whatever style you choose, BE CONSISTENT!
YOU SHOULD CITE WHEN:
WHEN REFERRING TO A SOURCE, YOU HAVE THREE OPTIONS FOR USING IT:
"Which option you should choose depends on how much of a source you are using, how you are using it, and what kind of paper you are writing, since different fields use sources in different ways." Grounds for Argument. When to Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize a Source. Used under CC BY NC SA
Image: Random quote by Gabriel Jones. Used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
YOU DO NOT NEED TO CITE:
Many different tools exist to assist you in the process of creating a citation entry. There are advantages and challenges to working with these tools.
Common mistakes include:
The biggest mistake is in completely trusting a citation generator to make no errors. Make sure you closely review all citations created in this way. You'll also still want to refer to your citation style guide to learn how to format your works cited/reference page.
See some choices for helpful citation managers and generators
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