It is important to properly cite the sources used when writing your academic paper in order to:
- Give credit to others' ideas and scholarship
- Avoid plagiarism
- Allow others to locate sources used
- Demonstrate authority of information
Citation elements often include:
- Author name(s)
- Title of publication (e.g., articles, journals, books)
- Date of publication
- Page numbers
- Volume and issue numbers (for journals, magazines, and other periodicals)
- Publisher name and location (for print books and reports)
- URL or DOI locators (for electronic sources)