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Research 101 - Finding Articles: Article Citations

Get the basics on articles & databases!

Style ManualsWhat does "citing a source" mean?

Citing means to refer to something. In other words, you refer someone to a source of information.

When you cite sources for your paper, you include information about those sources, typically at the end of your paper, under a heading like "Biliography" or "References," depending on the citation style you use.

TIP: When you do cite your sources for your paper or presentation, make sure you are using the citation style--MLA style, APA style, or another style--that your professor requests.

Image courtesy of CLIP Tutorial. Retrieved from http://www.clipinfolit.org/TUTORIALS May 2015.

Consider these 3 questions. Click on each to see if you know the answer!

The citation provides you with the information you need to:

  • Locate the article in a journal, magazine, or newspaper located in the library
  • Request a copy via Interlibrary loan if the journal, magazine, or newspaper is not available in the library or online full text through a library database
  • Cite the article in the bibliography or "Works Cited" section of your research paper
.
  • It's the law. You & others have intellectual property rights that are protected.
  • It's our responsibility. Give credit where credit is due. If you use a source, whether you quote it or not, you need to cite it.
  • It's evidence of your research. Show others where you get your information & ideas.
  • It's a trail. Show others where they can go to follow up on the information you provide.

Refer to the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, & WHEN, & sometimes the HOW:

  • Who is responsible for the information
  • When & where it was published
  • Sometimes the format it was published in

The resource you cite determines the precise information you need to include. Articles are different from books and other materials.

For more information on citing sources, visit:

What's in a Citation of an Article?

Sometimes you may see someone else cite an article that you think would be good to read. In order to get it, you need to know how to read that citation.

When you cite an article or read a citation of an article from a scholarly journal, the citation typically includes the following elements:

  • Author of article
  • Title of article
  • Title of the journal in which the article appears
  • Year the article was published in that journal
  • The specific volume number (sometimes with "vol.") & sometimes also issue number (sometimes with "no.") of the journal in which the article appears
  • Article page numbers if the journal has any
  • Depending on the style manual you use, you may also include additional elements

Citation of a scholarly journal article

When you cite an article or read a citation of an article from a newspaper, the citation should typically includes the following elements:

  • Author of article
  • Title of article
  • Title of newspaper in which article appears
  • Date article was published
  • Article page numbers if the newspaper has any
  • Name of database if from a database & date accessed
  • Depending on the style manual you use, you may include not as many elements or additional elements

MLA citation of article from newspaper with explanation

Article Citations in the Databases: What to Look For

Databases include citations to the articles that they index, or cover.

Take the Challenge!

Take a look at the following citation:

Edwards, K.E. and D.A. McKelfresh. "The Impact of a Living Learning Center on Students' Academic Success and Persistence." Journal of College Student Development, vol. 43, no. 3, 2002, pp. 395-402. PsycINFO, http://search.ebscohost.com. Accessed 27 May 2017.

Now answer each of these questions, and click on the question to see if you are correct and to pick up a few more tips!

The article title = The Impact of a Living Learning Center on Students' Academic Success and Persistence

Tips:

  • Article titles typically come before journal titles in citations
  • In MLA style, article titles are in quotes and capitalized

The journal title = The Journal of College Student Development

Tips:

  • The journal’s name typically comes after the article title in citations
  • Although the word journal is in this example, it is not always part of the name!
  • In MLA style, journal titles are capitalized and italicized

Other Examples of Journal Titles:

  • Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy
  • Philosophical Quarterly

The article was published in 2002.

Tip:

  • It was published in 2002
  • It was accessed by the individual who wrote this citation in 2017

The article has 8 pages.

Tips:

  • Pages 395 through 402—that makes 8!
  • This is actually a bit short for scholarly articles, which typically run 15-35 pages in length.

Volume 43, Issue 3

Tips:

  • This article is on pages 395-402 of the third issue of volume 43
  • If this were in print, you would need to get volume 43 from the library's shelves and look for issue 3, then turn to pages 395-402 for the article. Our journals are shelved alphabetically by journal title.

All Done! Need help?