Getting Started

...with Citation

In all types of research and scholarly writing, it is important to cite your sources in order to:

1. Help readers identify and locate the source you used.
   • Readers may want to locate the source you have cited, to verify the information or to learn more about the topic. A proper citation includes all of the information for readers to locate the source.
2. Provide evidence that your position is well-researched.
   • Scholarly writing is grounded in research. Citations strengthen your argument by demonstrating that your position is thoroughly researched.
3. Give credit to the author of ideas which are not your own, and thereby avoid plagiarism.
   • Giving proper credit to those whose ideas, words, and thoughts you use is not only respectful to those authors, but also helps you avoid plagiarism. 

...with Research

One of the most difficult parts of writing research papers is understanding what they really are. A research paper has to, at its most basic level, inform about the research on a topic. You can't simply pick a topic and say "I'm going to write a research paper about this topic," and then actually start writing it. You need to know what it is you're researching, why, what purpose it serves, and what type of research paper you are working on.

This might sound simple, however, people often get stuck coming up with a research question, or even really wondering what the difference between a research question and a regular question is. Research questions are those that can not be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." A research question is "[N]ot any question we ask. Instead, it is a clear, specific, and goal-oriented query related to a problem that needs to be addressed" (Nassaji, 2019, 283).

• Example of a regular question: Is a tomato a fruit?
• Example of a research question: What effect does the acid in tomatoes have on your tooth enamel?

This guide is far from exhaustive, but it aims to inform you about what research papers are, what pieces are necessary, what formatting and citation style to use, and how to properly compile everything.

Work Cited

Nassaji, Hossein. "Good Research Questions." Language Teaching Research, vol. 23, no. 3, 18 Apr. 2019, pp. 283-86, https://doi.org/10.1177/
     1362168819845322.

MLA Handouts

Below are a few useful one-sheet guides to creating both in-text and full citations.

Works Cited Citations

In-Text Citations

Citation Management Systems

The library provides access to the NoodleTools citation management system. NoodleTools helps you create, organize, and use citations in APA, MLA, & Chicago style.