An important aspect of information literacy is learning how to use information ethically by citing sources.

When you quote or paraphrase the idea of another person in your writing, you must provide a proper citation for the source in a bibliography or list of references to:

• give credit to the author or creator.
• enable a reader to locate the source you cited.
• lend credibility to your work.

If you use ideas of others and do not give them credit by providing proper references to their work, you are committing plagiarism.

A citation must include:

• author
• title
• source (publisher and place for books or non print materials; periodical title, volume, and pages for articles)
• date

If you are unsure of how to properly cite a source:

• Consult one of the Style Manuals on Reserve in the library.
• Ask your professor or a librarian.
• Use Citing Sources.