RESEARCH TOOLS
Research Process
The FOUR STAGES of the Research Process outlined below is a guideline for you to follow as you work on your research assignments. The progression through these steps is not linear, you may go back and forth between them.
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STAGE 1:
PREPARE FOR RESEARCH (DEFINE, EXPLORE, IDENTIFY, RELATE)
- Analyze and define your assignment
- View, analyze and discuss exemplars
- Explore possible topics
- Get an overview of your chosen topic
- Brainstorm topic, then cluster/web ideas
- Form inquiry questions and a tentative thesis
- Build a working outline
- List keywords for Boolean searches
- Prepare a tracking chart to record your searches
- Record due dates for the four stages of research
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STAGE 3:
PROCESS INFORMATION (ANALYZE & EVALUATE, TEST, SORT, SYNTHESIZE)
- Think critically as you listen, observe, read, view
- Make value judgements – question the authority, relevance, point-of-view and accuracy
- Record only information to answer your questions or to support your thesis ( avoid out-of-control note-taking)
- Sort and record using organizers and outline headings
- Document all sources of information carefully
- Test ideas to adjust research and strategies
- Synthesize findings and formulate conclusions
- Record your own thoughts and ideas as they occur
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STAGE 2:
ACCESS RESOURCES (LOCATE, SELECT, GATHER, COLLABORATE)
- Explore and sift a variety of different resources
- Use the computer as an access tool
- Connect different keywords for Boolean searches
- Record your searches on a tracking chart
- Gather the best and most suitable resources
- Save/print digital abstracts, summaries and lists
- Collaborate with others to share findings
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STAGE 4:
TRANSFER LEARNING (REVISE, PRESENT, REFLECT, TRANSFER)
- Leave lots of time to prepare essays, reports and /or class presentations
- consider the needs and constraints of:-
- your assignments;- requirements/evaluation
- your time;- preparation/presentation
- your resources;- equipment/supplies
- your format;- visuals, electronic, oral
- your strength;- talents and interest
- your audience
- Use communication software/techniques
- Practice presentations. Reserve material
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VanGeest, Sya. Research Portfolio. Toronto:OSLA. 2001.
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Citing Sources (APA; MLA)
When you do research, you are borrowing the words, facts and ideas of others therefore you must tell readers that you have borrowed the material and from where you have borrowed it. To make sure your work is honest, rather than PLAGIARIZED, you must give credit to the author for anything you have used. Therefore you must cite your sources.
See the table below for the citation styles used in each subject area.
APA and MLA documentation
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Format |
APA |
MLA |
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Courses |
Business
Design/Technology
Canada and World Studies (Geography, History, Law, Social Sciences)
Mathematics
Physical Education
Science |
The Arts (Art, Music, Drama)
English
Languages |
APA – American Psychological Association
The APA quick sheet contains guidelines for creating references and parenthetical citations. It includes the format and sample citations for print sources (books, encyclopedias, journals, magazines, newspaper, pamphlet/brochure, video recording/film/DVD), electronic sources (journals, magazines, newspaper, internet, encyclopedias) and parenthetical citations.
APA Formatting
General Rules
- Use a separate sheet of paper, with heading “References or Reference List” centered on the page
- List your sources in alphabetical order, ignore A, An, or The
- Indent the second and subsequent lines of the entry by five spaces
- Double-space between entries
- For books and article titles capitalize only the first word, any proper names and the first word after a colon or dash
- Capitalize periodical titles (magazines, scholarly journals and newspapers)
- Use (n.d.) when no date of publication is given
- Publication date is always the second item in the entry
- Name of month is always written in full
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1. BOOKS (PRINT) |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, initials of first name and middle name (if any).
(Date of Publication). Title of book. Place of Publication:
Publisher. |
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One author |
Smythe, L. (2003). Democracy today. New York: Macmillan. |
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Two to six authors |
Smythe, L., & Dare, J. (2003). Democracy today. New York:
Macmillan. |
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More than six authors |
Wimple, P. B., Van Eijk, M., Potts, C.A., Hayes, J., Obergau,
W.R., Zimmer, S., et al. (2001). Case studies in moral
decision making among adolescents. San Francisco: Jossey-
Bass. |
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No author |
Democracy today. (2003). New York: Macmillan. |
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Editor |
Ojeda, A. (Ed.). (2003). Teenage pregnancy. San Diego, CA:
Greenhaven Press. |
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Single volume in a multi-volume work |
Naylor, P.R. (1980-81). Footprints at the window. Vol. 3. The
York trilogy. New York: Simon and Schuster. |
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2. PERIODICALS: NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES OR SCHOLARLY
JOURNALS (PRINT) |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, initials of first name and middle name (if any).
(year, month day of periodical). Title of Article. Title of
Periodical, Volume number (if available), page numbers.
· Use abbreviation “p.” or “pp.” for newspaper articles ONLY |
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Magazine article with author |
Beyer, L. (2006, January 16). The lonely warrior. Time, 167,
35-37. |
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Newspaper article with author |
Carniol, N. (2006, February 16). Province blocks road in
park. The Toronto Star, p. E4. |
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Newspaper article with no author |
Province blocks road in park. (2006, February 16).
The Toronto Star, p. E8. |
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3. ENCYCLOPEDIA (PRINT) |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, initials of first name and middle name (if any).
(Date of Publication). Title of Article. Title of encyclopedia.
(Vol. #, p. #). Place of Publication: Publisher.
· Note the use of “In” with title of encyclopedia |
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Encyclopedia article with author |
Chertow, M.R. (2003). Acid rain. In The world book
encyclopedia (Vol.1, p. 27). Chicago: World Book. |
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Encyclopedia article
no author |
Grassland. (2003). In The new encyclopedia Britannica
(Vol. 5, pp. 431-433). Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica. |
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4. PAMPHLET/BROCHURE/ GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION (PRINT) |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, initials of first name and middle name (if any).
(Date of Publication). Title of pamphlet/brochure. Place of
Publication: Publisher. |
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Pamphlet/
brochure |
Lockwood, R.P. (2004). Ten commandments for sport parents.
Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor. |
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Government publication |
Ontario Ministry of Education. (2002). The Ontario curriculum,
grades 11 and 12: Interdisciplinary studies 2002. Toronto:
Queen’s Printer of Ontario. |
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5. VIDEOTAPE/DVD/MOTION PICTURE |
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FORMAT: Producer’s last name, initials (Producer), & Director’s last name,
initials (Director). (date of publication/year of release).
Title [medium]. Country of origin: Studio or distributor. |
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Videotape
film/DVD |
Goldman, R. (Producer). (1994). The Holocaust [Videotape].
United States: Discovery Communications. |
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6. eBOOKS |
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Format: Author’s last name, initials of first name and middle name (if any). (Print Date of
Publication). Title of article. In Title of encyclopedia (Vol.#, pp.#s). Print
Place of Publication: Print Publisher. Retrieved month day, year, from name
of database. |
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eBook article from an
encyclopedia in an online subscription database |
Brockman, J.R. (2003). Romero, Oscar A. In New Catholic
encyclopedia (Vol. 12, pp. 365-366). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved
June 10, 2009, from Gale Virtual Reference Library
database. |
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7. PERIODICALS: NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES & JOURNALS –
ELECTRONIC SOURCES |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, initials of first name and middle name (if any).
(year, month day of periodical). Title of Article. Title of
Periodical, volume # (issue #), page #s. Retrieved month day,
year, from subscription provider. |
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Newspaper article with author found in an online subscription database |
Baeb, E. (2006, August 10). Tiger Woods puts his mind, money
into learning centre for children. Toronto Star. Retrieved
August 13, 2006, from eLibrary database. |
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Magazine article with author found in an online subscription database |
Ransdell, E. (1995, November 11). The telltale signs of the next
genocide. U.S News and World Report. Retrieved January 7,
2006, from eLibrary database. |
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Magazine article with no author found in an online subscription database |
Tackling overdue reforms at the U.N. (2005, August 26).
National Catholic Reporter, 41 (37), 11. Retrieved August 11,
2006, from eLibrary database. |
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Magazine article with author found on the web |
Ransom, D. (2006, February 4). Venezuela –The seven- year itch.
New Internationalist. Retrieved February 16, 2006, from
http://www.newint.org/ |
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8. INTERNET |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, Author’s initials. (year, month day of publication
or update). Title of section in web page. Title of site or home
page. Retrieved month day, year, from URL |
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Entire web site |
CBCNEWS.ca. (2009). CBC. Retrieved August 10, 2009,
from http://cbc.ca.news |
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Section of web site with author |
Packer, L.E. (2006, June 29). Behavior. Tourette Syndrome ”Plus”.
Retrieved August 11, 2006, from
http://tourettesyndrome.net/behavior.htm |
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9. ENCYCLOPEDIA – ELECTRONIC SOURCES |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, initials of first name and middle name (if any).
(year, month day of publication). Title of Article. In Title of
encyclopedia. Retrieved month day, year, from Subscription
Provider. |
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Article with author found in an online subscription database |
Dohler, G. C. (2002, January 1). Tsunami. In Canadian
encyclopedia. Retrieved August 10, 2006, from
eLibrary database. |
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Article with no author found in an online encyclopedia |
Tsunami. (2006). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved
August 13, 2006, from
http://britannica.com/eb/article-9073363 |
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PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS – in-text citations to acknowledge when source material is quoted, paraphrased or summarized |
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General rules :-
· Place citations in parenthesis within the text at the end of quotations or paraphrased sentence.
· If the quotation is under 40 words, it is incorporated into the text of paper and enclosed with quotation marks.
· If the quotation is 40 or more words, begin a new line, indent five spaces from the left margin and type double space without quotation marks. |
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FORMAT (PRINT): (Author’s surname, year, page).
abbreviation for “page” (p. or pp.)
· For electronic sources cite paragraph # after year of publication , use the abbreviation “para” followed by the paragraph # |
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Direct quotation
one author |
(Smith, 2006, p. 76). |
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Direct quotation,
2 authors |
(Smith & Galbraith, 2006, para. 5). |
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Direct quotation,
6 or more authors |
(Smith et al., 2006, p. 67). |
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Direct quotation,
no author |
(Mothers Against Drunk Driving [MADD], 2000)
2nd. citation: (MADD, 2000) |
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Paraphrase |
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Author’s surname given in the body of your paper; e.g., Smith (2006) claimed that ……….
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Author's name NOT given in the body of the paper; e.g., In a study on.......(Smith, 2006) claim ...........
Note: no page number when paraphasing or summarizing.
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For more information go to:-
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/ - Purdue MLA Formatting and Style
http://citationmachine.net - Citation Builder
http://noodletools.com/noodlebib/express.php - NoodleBib Express Citation Builder
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MLA - Modern Language Association of America
The MLA quick sheet contains guidelines for creating references and parenthetical citations. It includes the format and sample citations for print sources (books, encyclopedias, journals, magazines, newspaper, pamphlet/brochure, video recording/film/DVD), electronic sources (journals, magazines, newspaper, internet, encyclopedias) and parenthetical citations.
MLA Formatting
General Rules
- Use separate sheet of paper, with heading "Works Cited" for sources referred to in assignment, and "Works Consulted" for all sources consulted during research. Heading is centered on the page, do not underline or bold
- List sources in alphabetical order
- Indent the second and subsequent lines of each entry by five spaces
- Double space between entries
- Capitalize each word of the title except "a", "an" or "the" if they appear in the middle of the title
- Titles of articles are enclosed in quotation marks
- Use (n.d.) when no date of publication is given
- All months except May, June and July are abbreviated in an entry
- Omit terms in publishers' names such as "Publishing", "Company", "Limited" etc.
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1. BOOKS (PRINT) |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, first name. Title of book. Place of publication:
Publisher, Year of Publication.
· Titles of books are either underlined or italicized
· Full first name as they appear in title page
· Second author in natural order |
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One Author |
Smythe, Lola. Democracy Today. New York: Macmillan, 2003. |
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Two Authors |
Smith, Stuart Tyson, and Nancy Stone Bernard. Valley of the
Kings. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. |
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More than three authors |
Chafe, William H., et al. Civilities and Civil Rights. New York:
Oxford University Press, 2000. |
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No Author |
Democracy Today. New York: Macmillan, 2003. |
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Editor |
Ojeda, Auriana, ed. Teenage Pregnancy. San Diego, CA:
Greenhaven Press, 2003. |
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2. PERIODICALS: NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES OR SCHOLARLY JOURNALS (PRINT) |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, first name. “Title of article.” Title of
Newspaper/Magazine/Journal day month abbr. year: page #s.
· If an article is not printed on consecutive pages, write the first page # and a plus sign
· Titles of periodicals are either underlined or italicized |
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Magazine article with author |
Beyer, Lisa. “The Lonely Warrior.” Time 16 Jan. 2006: 35-37. |
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Newspaper article with author |
Carniol, Naomi. “Province Blocks Road in Park.” Toronto Star 16
Feb. 2006: E4+. |
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Newspaper article with no author |
“Province Blocks Road in Park.” Toronto Star 16 Feb. 2006: E4+. |
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3. ENCYCLOPEDIA (PRINT) |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Encyclopedia Entry.” Name
of Encyclopedia. Edition. Year of Publication.
· Titles of articles are enclosed in quotation marks
· Volume and page numbers are optional |
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Encyclopedia article with author |
Chertow, Marian R. “Acid Rain.” World Book. 2004 ed. |
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Encyclopedia article with no author |
“Grassland.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica. 15th ed.
2003. 5: 431. |
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4. PAMPHLET/BROCHURE/GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION (PRINT) |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, first name or Publishing Organization. Title of
Pamphlet/Brochure/Government Publication. City of publication:
Publisher, Year of Publication |
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Pamphlet/brochure |
Lockwood, Robert P. Ten Commandments for Sport
Parents. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 2004. |
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Government publication |
Ontario Ministry of Education. The Ontario Curriculum,
Grader 11 and 12: Interdisciplinary Studies, 2002.
Toronto: Queen’s Printer of Canada, 2002. |
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5. VIDEOTAPE/DVD/MOTION PICTURE |
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FORMAT: Title of videotape/DVD. Dir. Director’s name. Narr. Narrator’s
Name. Media type (Film, Videocassette or DVD). Publishing
Company, year of media release. |
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Videotape/film/DVD |
Holocaust. Prod. Randy Goldman. Videocassette.
Discovery Communications, 1993. |
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6. eBOOKS |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Book. Print Place of
Publication: Print Publisher, Print Date of Publication. Name of eBook
database. Name of Library. City, Province abbr. Day month abbr. year
you access the article <Website address>. |
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eBook article from an encyclopedia in an online subscription database |
Brockman, J.R. “Romero, Oscar A.” New Catholic Encyclopedia.
2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
John Cabot Catholic Secondary School. Mississauga, ON. 18
June 2009 <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?
p=GVRL&u=miss93586>. |
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7. PERIODICALS: NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES &
JOURNALS - ELECTRONIC SOURCES |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Newspapers/
Magazines/Journals Day month abbr. year of article. Name of
Database. Name of Library, City, Province abbr. Day month abbr. year
you access the article <Website address>. |
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Newspaper article with author found in an online subscription database |
Baeb, Eddie. “Tiger Woods puts his Mind, Money into Learning
Centre for Children.” Toronto Star 10 Aug. 2006. eLibrary
Proquest. John Cabot Catholic Secondary School, Mississauga,
ON. 13 Aug. 2006 < http://www.proquestk12.com>. |
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Magazine article with no author found in an online subscription database |
“Tackling Overdue Reforms at the U.N.” National Catholic
Reporter 26 Aug. 2005. eLibrary Proquest. John Cabot
Catholic Secondary School, Mississauga, ON. 7 Jan. 2006
<http://proquestk12.com>. |
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Article with author in an online magazine |
Ransom, David. “Venezuela –The Seven- Year Itch.” New
Internationalist 4 Feb. 2006. 16 Feb. 2006
<http://www.newint.org/>. |
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8. INTERNET |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Title of website.
Day month abbr. year of publication or latest update. Name of
sponsoring institution or organization. Day month abbr. year you
access the website <website address>. |
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Entire Internet site |
CBCNEWS.ca. 2009. CBC. 10 Aug. 2009 <http://cbc.ca.news>. |
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Section of web site with no author |
“Alberta Minister Apologizes to Those Offended by Remarks on
Child-rearing.” CBCNEWS.ca. 2009. CBC. 10 Aug. 2009
<http://cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2009/06/18/edmonton-
iris-evans-reaction.html>. |
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9. ENCYCLOPEDIA – ELECTRONIC SOURCES |
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FORMAT: Author’s last name, first name. “Title of article.” Title of
encyclopedia. Product Name. Year. Sponsoring Agency. Day,
month abbr. year you access website <website address>. |
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Article with author in an online subscription database |
Dohler, G. C. “Tsunami.” Canadian Encyclopedia. 2002.
eLibrary Proquest. John Cabot Catholic Secondary
School, Mississauga, ON. 10 Aug. 2006
<http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculumca>. |
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Article with no author in an online encyclopedia |
“Tsunami.”Encyclopedia Britannica. 2006 Encyclopedia
Britannica Online. 13 Aug. 2006
<http://britannica.com/eb/article-9073363>. |
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PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS – in text citations to acknowledge when source material is quoted, paraphrased or summarized |
|
General Rules:-
· Place citations in parenthesis within text after the closing quotation
marks and before the period.
· For quotations of four or more lines, begin in a new line, indent five spaces
and omit quotation marks. The citation goes after the period. |
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FORMAT (PRINT): (Author’s last name page#).
· For electronic sources use paragraph # instead of page #. The paragraph number should appear in your citation following the abbreviation par. |
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Direct quotation, one author and author IS NOT mentioned in text |
(Smith 76). |
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Direct quotation, one author and author IS mentioned in text |
(76)
· Cite page # in parenthesis at end of quotation |
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Direct quotation, two or three authors and authors ARE NOT mentioned in text |
(Smith and Galbraith par. 97). |
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Direct quotation, more than three authors and authors ARE NOT mentioned in the text |
(Smith et al 83).
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Direct quotation, no author |
(“Child Soldiers” 102)
· Underline title if source is a book
· Use quotation marks if source is an article |
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Paraphrase and author IS mentioned in text |
Smith has argued this point (76). |
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Paraphrase and author IS NOT
mentioned in text |
This point was argued (Smith 76). |
For more information go to:-
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/ - Purdue MLA Formatting and Style
http://citationmachine.net - Citation Builder
http://noodletools.com/noodlebib/express.php - Noodlebib Express Citation Builder
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