The writing process often requires the gathering and analyzing of information. When that information is the product of another person's research or is another person's ideas, it must be acknowledged, or cited. Not giving documentation credit is to present the material as yours, which is intellectual dishonesty and a form of plagiarism.
Because there are several styles of documentation, each suiting a particular discipline, it is important to consult with your professor to learn which style he/she requires. The most commonly used documentation styles at Northwestern are the MLA, APA, and CSE.
Click on the links below to view the guidelines for each format.
MLA (Modern Language Association)
Style
Used by the English department and most other humanities disciplines
APA (American Psychological Association) Style
Commonly used by the psychology department and the behavioral and social sciences
Click here for a short video explaining APA-style citation
CSE
(Council of Science
Editors)
Style
The preferred format of the science department.
NoodleTools.com - MLA- and APA-style citation composer on the Web
