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- Information About Written Reports
- Step 1: Identify A Report Topic
- Step 2: Understand Your Audience
- Step 3: Focus And Refine Your Topic
- Step 4: Create A Working Bibliography
- Step 5: Evaluate And Synthesize Resources
- Step 6: Take Notes On What You Read
- Step 7: Organize Your Ideas And Create Structure
- Step 8: Write The First Draft
- Step 9: Revise And Edit The Report
- Step 10: Cite References
- References
- Summary
Step 10: Cite References
During the editing process you should also ensure that you have correctly cited the references that you have used. Failure to do so can be construed as plagiarism. Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's ideas in your paper without giving the author credit for them. Plagiarism is a serious offense and may result in expulsion from the University.
All ideas that you borrow from other authors must be cited. This includes ideas that you have summarized, ideas that you have paraphrased, and direct quotations. In general, everything other than common knowledge or knowledge that is not traceable to a specific source should be cited. To learn more, please see the iStudy Academic Integrity tutorial (opens new window).
There are several different guidelines for citing references. For example, MLA style is the system set forth by the Modern Language Association. APA style refers to the system devised by the American Psychological Association. CBE style is recommended by the Council of Biology Editors. A fourth style is called the Chicago style. Hard copy style manuals may be purchased for each of these documentation formats, and many online sites will assist you in using a particular style correctly. Additionally, some software, such as EndNote, allows you to store references in a generic format and then export them in most of the common styles used today.
Getting Help with Style
Internet help on APA and Chicago style formats can be found in many places.
- Information on APA style can be found at: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html (opens new window).
- Information on the Chicago style at: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/chicago_manual_of_style_17th_edition.html (opens new window).