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CHEM 4691 - Capstone Research I

Why Cite?

Why do I need to cite sources I have consulted when writing the project report (other than it is required by the instructors)?

Some Reasons Why Scholars Cite  1

  • To persuade ("...persuasion by argument, buttressed by support from authoritative papers in the field") . 2
  • To embody concepts or methods (rather than describing how to determine a protein, I cite the paper that tells you this, and move with my own addition to knowledge).
  • To provide credibility (they allow the reader to check the evidence and chain of logic themselves).
  • To give credit for ideas and show the reader where to go for a further elaboration
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2. Ibid. p. 389

Note: You need to cite sources in your writing if you use someone else's ideas, data, methodologies, illustrations, etc.; it does not matter what format they are in.

What is a Citation?

So, what is a citation? Click "Start" to learn.

 

How to Cite?

If, for example, you want to cite an article in your paper to support your argument, you should:

  1. Make an in-text reference within your writing:
    Making censorship the filter would signal a fundamental change in the role that the Government plays (Anastas and Warner, 1998), ...
     
  2. Include complete details about the article in the references section at the end of your paper: Anastas, P. T.; Warner, J. C. Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice; Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1998.

Citation Styles

  • There are several common citation styles (standard formats for listing references). Style varies across disciplines. Ask your instructor which style s/he prefers.
     
  • In general, references of periodical articles should have these elements:
  • Author(s) - who wrote it
  • Title - what the article is called
  • Source - title of the periodical or larger work it appeared in
  • Volume & Issue numbers
  • Publication date
  • Page numbers

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