Cite a Research Paper
How to cite research papers appropriately
Plagiarism is considered as a punishable offense in today’s world. There is a lot of awareness about plagiarism and its consequences; but still many students end up getting accused of plagiarism; partially due to the unawareness of what all come under plagiarism and partially due to the ignorance of the seriousness of what they are doing. Being aware of plagiarism and its aftermaths is the only way by which you would be able to appreciate the need to cite a research paper source appropriately.
The reasons for citing the sources in research papers
The research on a topic does not end where the research paper ends. That is the reason why research papers are always formally documented. And when a document is documented formally, it is necessary for every aspect of the paper to be in place. There are many purposes which are served by research paper citations.
• Reference: Your research might pave the way for another research on the same topic or it might generate fresh ideas for research. While reading through your research paper, your audience might want to learn more about the topic than what is discussed in your paper. They might want to read through the details of the matter discussed in the sources you have used. That makes it important for you to cite a research paper source with all the details which are necessary for the readers to track the book and the cited information.
• Acknowledgment: By citing your sources, you are acknowledging the fact that the information you have presented in your research paper is not fully your own. You are accepting that there are, also, contributions from various other researchers who had recorded their research findings. The acknowledgment of the sources used will keep you safe from the being accused of plagiarism.
How to cite your sources in your paper
There are various methods used by various documentation styles for citation purposes. But the citation methods can mainly be classified into two – in-text citations and the bibliography section.
• In-text citations or parenthetical references contain basic information on the source which will help the reader link the information to the details given in the bibliography section. MLA style uses parenthetical referencing in the format of (author, page) whereas APA style asks for (author, date) format for in-text citations. Chicago style employs the use of footnotes or end notes to cite research papers written in that style.
• The bibliography section in MLA format is called the ‘Works Cited List’ and the APA calls its bibliography section ‘References’. Chicago style gives the section the heading of ‘Bibliography’. The details to be given and the pattern must be ascertained from the manual of the style you are using.
If you need any help with the task of citing your sources, let us know. Our highly trained and experienced academic writers will be able to cite research papers in all documentation styles, perfectly. Whether you are preparing a global warming research paper or struggling with process paper topics, our writers will be able to assist you. We also offer help with preparing term paper outlines, formatting, editing and proof reading. Our custom research papers are prepared with respect to the specifications of the assignment as well as the personal preferences of our customers.
Related Posts
Tags: citation methods, Cite a Research Paper, Research Paper Citing
