Citing Your Sources
Proper citation is an essential aspect of scholarship. Citing properly allows your reader or audience to locate the materials you have used. Most importantly, citations give credit to the authors of quoted or consulted information. Failure to acknowledge sources of information properly may constitute plagiarism. For an explicit definition of plagiarism, see the Boston University Academic Conduct Code.
For detailed instructions on how to cite within the text of your paper, please consult a style manual listed below. Please also note: some of the resources below do not cover every possibility you might encounter when trying to cite your sources. For this reason, it is suggested that you consult a style manual to create your bibliography.
BU Librarians often recommend using a bibliographic manager to organize and format works you are citing or using.
MLA
MLA Handbook by Location: Mugar Reference X LB2369 .M52 2021ISBN: 9781603293518Publication Date: 2021"The ninth edition of the MLA Handbook is a textbook and reference guide that offers student writers and writing instructors guidance on creating works-cited-list entries in MLA style using the template of core elements. It features advice on punctuation, grammar, inclusive language, formatting research papers, and in-text citations. Includes an appendix of sample works-cited-list entries, illustrations, and an index"--
Annotated Bibliography
In an annotated bibliography, the citation (the part you are probably already familiar with) is followed by a brief (~250 word) annotation. Think of this as a note to yourself, your classmates, and your professor.
The annotation always has a summary of the work, and can include additional evaluative elements:
- information about how the work informs your approach to your topic
- explanation of how this work connects to other sources you are using
- critical assessment of strengths and weaknesses of the work
