Lindsay learned about using sources for a research paper in her COMM 1270, Analyzing Arguments class at SLCC.
She thought: "If I understand a topic and write about it in my own words, why do I have to show this picky reference?"
But her teacher said: “Whenever you use another person’s ideas, information, or particularly their specific words, you need to give them credit and use citations.” She explained that if we are not citing sources, it is considered plagiarism, a serious offense in school and in the world. It is like stealing thoughts and ideas and claiming them as your own.
At first, citing sources was irritating. But the more I did it, the more it made sense. I realized that citations actually helped my paper look more trustworthy. When I included evidence from expert sources and gave its source, my arguments were stronger. Now, whenever I write a research paper, I make sure to keep track of my sources as I go. It takes more time, but it’s worth it.
Attribution is crediting the authors you use, in academic work, for their information.
Because information has value, it is important to acknowledge it, when it is not your own work. Authors need to be paid for their work, and documenting our sources is a way to make it clear who did what, and it is also a way to be part of a scholarly dialogue on a topic.
The SLCC Student Code of Conduct defines it as "Presenting within one’s own work the ideas, representations, or words of another person without customary and proper acknowledgment of that person’s authorship ...."
Example of an APA end of paper citation for a book (this one here):
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association 2020:
the official guide to APA style (7th ed.). American Psychological Association.
Example of an APA citation for a journal article:
He, D., Zhao, P., & Cindy Sing, B. N. (2025). Engaging social media users with corporate social responsibility messages:
An integrated theoretical approach in the automotive industry during social media era. PLoSOne, 20(6)
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322481
Most of the Library research databases have built-in citation tools which makes formatting your reference list a breeze. Citations tools can vary by database. Look for CITE button once you've opened an article.
Student Writing Center at SLCC, available in person or online.
OWL (Online Writing Lab) at Purdue University: APA Formatting
