Research Guides: Media Production: Citation

Why Cite

When writing a research paper you will use a wide variety of resources. You are required to cite your sources for two main reasons:

To give credit to the creator of the original idea. By citing you will avoid any charges of plagiarism.
To enable readers of your paper to be able to find the resources you have used and consult them to read further on the topic.

For more information, check Why We Cite and How to Avoid Plagiarism.

MLA Style

MLA Style is commonly used in the arts, literature and the humanities.

Style and Formatting Help

MLA Formatting and Style Guide from Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)

Official MLA Style Guide

MLA Handbook

MLA Plus (online version of 9th ed. of the MLA Handbook)

MLA Plus

Chicago Manual of Style

Style and Formatting Guides

Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition from Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)

Chicago Basic Style Guide from Student Learning Support (Toronto Metropolitan University)

Official Versions

Chicago Manual of Style. 17th Edition.
10th floor. Call number: Z253 U69 2017 (1 week loan)

Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition
10th floor, Call number: Z253 .U69 2010

Chicago Manual of Style Online This link opens in a new window
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With the full contents of 16th and 17th editions, the Chicago Manual of Style Online provides recommendations on editorial style and publishing practices for the digital age. Not only is it fully searchable, it also encompasses a Q & A session which answers the readers’ style questions. The Chicago Manual of Style is widely used in social science and humanities scholarly submissions.

Citation Managers

What's the best citation management software for me?

So how do you pick the best citation management software for you? There are many factors to consider. For example, if you are an undergraduate student, you might be looking for the fastest and easiest option—something with a short learning curve, which lets you grab citations and produce bibliographies in a snap. Oh, and let's not forget: it needs to be free or cheap.

If you're a graduate student or a faculty member, you might have different considerations: the software needs to work well with the databases you use frequently, it must be able to organize and filter a large number of citations, and it should be able to produce a bibliography in the primary style used in your discipline. If you're working on a research team, you'll also want to make sure the software allows you to collaborate with your colleagues smoothly.

U of T has created this guide comparison chart below to help you examine the different features available and figure out the best option for you. We've adapted it slightly to reflect TMU's resources.