Citing sources in a research paper is an important way to give credit to the original creators of the ideas, theories, and research findings that you have used in your own work. It is also a way to help your readers find and verify the sources you have used, so that they can further explore the topic on their own. There are many different styles for citing sources in research papers, but one of the most widely used is the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. This style is often used in the humanities, including literature, language, and cultural studies.
In MLA style, citations are typically included in the text of the paper, in parentheses, and are listed in alphabetical order by the author's last name. The citation should include the author's last name, the page number(s) of the source where the information was found, and the year the source was published. For example: (Smith 123). If you are citing multiple works by the same author, you should also include a shortened version of the title in the citation, like this: (Smith, "Title" 123).
If you are citing a source that does not have an author, you should begin the citation with the title of the source. If the title is long, you can use a shortened version in the citation. For example: ("Title" 123). If you are citing a source that has no page numbers, you can simply include the author's last name and the year of publication, like this: (Smith 2020).
At the end of your research paper, you should include a list of all the sources you have cited, called a "Works Cited" list. This list should be arranged in alphabetical order by the author's last name, and should include all the information needed to locate the source, including the author's name, the title of the source, the publisher, and the date of publication.
In addition to citing sources within the text of your paper and creating a Works Cited list, it is also important to make sure that you are properly quoting and paraphrasing the ideas of others. When you directly quote the words of another author, you should use quotation marks and include the page number(s) of the source in the citation. For example: "According to Smith, 'the key to success is hard work'" (123). When you paraphrase the ideas of another author, you should still include a citation to give credit to the original source.
Citing sources in a research paper is an important way to show your readers where your ideas and information come from, and to give credit to the original creators of that information. By following the MLA style guidelines for citing and quoting sources, you can ensure that your research paper is properly formatted and that you are acknowledging the contributions of others to your own work.
