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Design Theory: Citing Sources

The Importance of Citing Your Work

Citations are important because:

  • They provide a trail by which others can locate the materials you consulted.
  • They provide evidence of your research.
  • They are a strategy to avoid plagiarizism. 
  • They give credit to authors whose works you have used (whether you quote them or not).

 Adapted from University of Vermont Library's Why Citations Matter

MLA Citation Examples

BOOKS

Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

Example: Gura, Judith. Abrams Guide to Period Styles for Interiors. New York: Abrams, 2005. Print.

PERIODICAL ARTICLE

Author. "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: Pages. Medium of publication.

Example: Rich, Sarah. "Oakland Made." Metropolis Jul. 2013: 60-65. Print.

DATABASE ARTICLE

Author.  "Title of Article." Title of the publication in italics all volume and issue numbers (Year of publication): Pages. Database accessed in italics. Medium accessed. Date accessed.

Example: Spinoza, Jerry. "Ernerst Flagg Drawings." American Architect 29 (2005): 135-148. EBSCO. Web. 13 May 2012.

Citation Resources (online)

MLA Style Guides at NYSID