From 0 to 1, Become a Citation Management Master!
December 06,2023 Features
Written by CHEN Chen, Library
Edited by GONG Weifan, Library
Updated 1730 CST Dec 6, 2023
Edited by GONG Weifan, Library
Updated 1730 CST Dec 6, 2023
Why Cite?
Citing the sources used in your research is crucial for the following reasons:
1.
Giving credit: By acknowledging the contributions of authors to your academic work, you demonstrate respect for their diligent efforts.
2.
Identifying materials: By citing the materials that support your ideas, you provide a clear understanding of the connections between your ideas and the intellectual tradition from which they originate.
3.
Tracking sources: By providing readers with references to track the sources you have used, they can examine your work or explore it further. This allows for transparency and enables others to verify the accuracy and credibility of your research.
How & When to Cite?
There are various methods for making citations. Let's explore them together:
1.
Quoting: When you directly copy the exact words or a unique phrase from a source, use quotation marks to indicate that it is a direct quote. This applies not only to textual content but also to diagrams, illustrations, charts, pictures, or other visual materials. Additionally, if you reuse or repost any digital media, such as images, audio, video, or other media, it is considered copying the exact work of others, and you need to provide proper attribution, even if quotation marks are not used.
2.
Paraphrasing: When you interpret someone's ideas using your own words, it is called paraphrasing. This method allows you to convey the original ideas in a different form while still giving credit to the original author. Make sure to accurately represent the original meaning and provide a citation to acknowledge the source.
3.
Summarizing: Summarizing involves condensing and capturing the main ideas and thoughts from a source. It is commonly used when providing a broad overview of the source materials. When summarizing, it is important to accurately represent the key points while maintaining the integrity of the original work. Always include a citation to give credit to the original author.
Citation Styles
There are two commonly used citation styles: author-date style and notes-bibliography style. Here are some details about each style and examples of citation formats used in APA (author-date style) and MLA (notes-bibliography style):
1.
Author-Date Style:
·
Used in most social sciences and natural/physical sciences.
·
Examples of author-date style citation formats include APA and MLA (for specific disciplines).
APA Style Example:
·
In-text citation (e.g., a book): (Tang, 2016)
·
Reference entry (e.g., a book): Tang, W. (2016). Populist Authoritarianism: Chinese Political Culture and Regime Sustainability. Oxford University Press.
·
The list of referenced sources in APA style is called "References."
MLA Style Example:
·
In-text citation (e.g., a book): (Tang 2016)
·
Works Cited entry (e.g., a book): Tang, Wenfang. Populist Authoritarianism: Chinese Political Culture and Regime Sustainability. Oxford University Press, 2016.
·
The list of referenced sources in MLA style is called "Works Cited."
2.
Notes-Bibliography Style:
·
Used widely in the humanities and some social sciences.
·
Examples of notes-bibliography style include Chicago style (for specific disciplines).
Chicago Style Example:
·
Footnote/Endnote citation (e.g., a book):
·
Full citation: Wenfang Tang, Populist Authoritarianism: Chinese Political Culture and Regime Sustainability (Oxford University Press, 2016), 25.
·
Shortened citation (subsequent references): Tang, Populist Authoritarianism, 30.
·
Bibliography entry (e.g., a book):
·
Tang, Wenfang. Populist Authoritarianism: Chinese Political Culture and Regime Sustainability. Oxford University Press, 2016.
These examples demonstrate the citation formats for APA (author-date style) and MLA (notes-bibliography style). It's important to consult the specific style guide recommended in your field of study or by your instructor to ensure accurate and consistent citations.
Other citation styles include:
1.
CSE (Council of Science Editors): Used in the biological sciences, this style provides guidelines for citing sources in scientific writing and research papers.
2.
AMA (American Medical Association): Primarily used in the biomedical sciences, medicine, nursing, and dentistry, the AMA style offers specific rules for citing and referencing sources in these fields.
3.
ACS (American Chemical Society): Designed for the field of chemistry, the ACS style provides guidelines for citing chemical literature and other scientific sources.
4.
AIP (American Institute of Physics): AIP style is used in physics and related disciplines, including astrophysics and astronomy. It offers specific guidelines for citing sources in these areas.
5.
AMS (American Mathematical Society): The AMS style is used in mathematics research and provides guidelines for citing mathematical literature and research papers.
6.
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): Widely used in engineering and related fields, the IEEE style offers guidelines for citing sources in technical papers and publications.
There are also a large number of citation styles for research outputs scripted in Chinese:
·
Eg. 《中国社会科学》
Citation Management Tools
How to manage citations? The library brings you two citation management tools that you can use for free.
Scan to download Endnote21
Scan to download NoteExpress
In the next issue, we will provide specific tips on using EndNote!
