The UNCSA Writing Center is located in the Teaching and Learning Center, above the Library Cafe. Help is available for all students, whether or not English is their first language. See the link below for more information.
Proper citing of sources lends credibility to your work, allows your reader to locate the same source you used (as you do when using the bibliography in a book to find further information) and prevents plagiarism. Plagiarism is the use of another’s words or ideas as your own but without giving them proper credit. You must always provide documentation for any material that a reader might assume is your own creation. If you have any doubts, cite it.
Academic Integrity Policy
Properly acknowledge and cite all use of the ideas, words, data, conclusions, artistic products, and craftsmanship of others;
Properly acknowledge all contributors to a given piece of work in any medium;
Ensure that all work submitted as his or her own is produced without the aid of unsanctioned materials or unsanctioned collaboration;
Treat all other students in an ethical manner, respecting their integrity and right to pursue their educational goals without interference, which requires that a student neither facilitate academic dishonesty by others nor obstruct the academic progress of others;
Uphold the ethical or professional code of the profession for which he or she is preparing.
When you use someone else’s ideas or quotes in your own research, you must give the author credit through a footnote or an entry on your “works cited” page. These entries follow a specific format which should be verified with your instructor. The MLA Format is one of the most widely-used and may be accessed at http://owl.english.purdue.edu which is courtesy of the Online Writing Lab or OWL at Purdue University.
In addition to the OWL site, the library has print style manuals in the Reference collection. Two of the most widely used are listed below. Both provide standards for citing sources that will include the information a reader will need to locate the source you used and to give the author credit for the use of his work in your research.