Module 5: Citing Information

Once you have located, evaluated and used your information in your writing, you need to credit the authors of the sources you used. Although it may seem difficult and tiresome, it's important to cite sources for several reasons:

• Helps you to avoid plagiarism
• Allows the reader to locate the sources you used
• Gives your argument more credibility by showing you have done enough research and looked at many points of view
• Is standard practice for students and scholars, as they participate in building a body of knowledge

At the end of this module you will be able to:

• Understand the difference between copyright infringement and plagiarism
• Understand how to cite direct quotes and paraphrases in your paper
• Understand the basic citation formats for print and electronic sources in APA and MLA style