Cite Your Sources
Step 7: Save and Cite Your Sources
Here is where you make sure you're saving and citing your sources. You'll need to cite in-text for paraphrasing and quoting, and in your reference page at the end. You should...
- use the Permalink tools to save your work,
- use the Cite tool in Start Your Research (see box below right) to get a citation for any article you use,
- check your citation to make sure it is correct! Use the MLA resources in the box below left,
- watch the video in the center box for information about how to paraphrase without plagiarizing.
Note: not citing your sources is plagiarism - a kind of theft. For more information, look at the lower boxes.
Saving Your Work
Use the Permalink tool to get back to your article at any time.
Do NOT save the url at the top of the page. It won't work.
To get a link to your entire search, under the Share button:
And get a link to a specific article, use the permalink below the cite button - the link will show up above the article title.
Ways to Avoid Plagiarism
Here's how to avoid plagiarism:
Simply give credit where credit is due: present information other people's work in the body of your paper. Our citation guide will help you use:
Direct quote
- If you want to use a sentence or a passage exactly as it was written, you can include a direct quote, surrounded by quotation marks, and cite it by referencing the author and work of origin.
Summary/Paraphrase
- You can also write a summary in your own words of the ideas or (or paraphrase) the text you want to use. It helps to write the summary from your memory rather than looking directly at the passage.
Writing a summary and paraphrasing can be tricky as you MUST put the information in your own words, so to learn more about avoiding plagiarism, read the Plagiarism Guide.
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is a very serious offense.
Examples of Plagiarism Include:
- Using someone else's ideas or writings and presenting them as your own
- Using someone else's paper or paying someone to write your paper
- Restating someone else's ideas or writings too closely
- Not citing quotations
Who can help me make sure I'm NOT plagiarizing?
If you have specific questions about citing your sources, writing tips, or help with editing, go to:
Student Learning Assistance Center (SLAC)
Get in-person tutoring at the Student Learning Assistance Center, or SLAC, located on the 4th floor of Alkek Library. Check the website for hours and availability.
SLAC also maintains good handout page for quick reference.
Texas State University Writing Center
The Writing Center is located on the first floor of ASB North. You can get help with all types of writing, including papers, essays, and resumes.
The Writing Center offers in-person and online tutoring (check their website for more information). You can also print out documentation handouts.
Cite Tool
Use the cite tool in Start Your Research:
- From your results page, click on the title of an article.
- Click on the "Cite" tool in the right column.
- Scroll down to the MLA style citation.
- Copy and paste that into your reference page.
- Don't forget to check it for accuracy!
Texas State Honor Code
The Texas State Honor Code:
WE ARE HONEST. We do our own work and are honest with one another in all matters. We understand how various acts of dishonesty, like plagiarizing, falsifying data, and giving or receiving assistance to which one is not entitled, conflict as much with academic achievement as with the values of honesty and integrity. Click here to read the entire Texas State Honor Code.