Cite Sources

Learn the basics about academic integrity and citation. Check in with your professor to ensure you are using the correct citation format for your course and discipline.

The following format is recommended by APA guidelines; however, you should always format your papers according to your professor’s guidelines.

Reference List Citation Format:

Last name, First initial., Nation/Community. Treaty Territory if applicable. Where they live if applicable. Topic/subject of communication if applicable. Personal communication. Month Date, Year.

Example:

Cardinal, D., Goodfish Lake Cree Nation. Treaty 6. Lives in Edmonton. Oral teaching. Personal communication. April 4, 2004.
In-Text Citation For a quotation or paraphrase:

  • Format: (Last Name of Elder/Knowledge Keeper, Year of communication)
  • Example: (Cardinal, 2004)

Note: This template should be used when citing oral communication with Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. If you are citing material authored by an Indigenous person, please follow the appropriate citation template for citing the source. For example, follow the citation template for a book when citing a novel written by an Indigenous author.

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APA 7th Edition Interactive Modules

Explore these interactive modules to learn the fundamentals of APA 7th Edition, from avoiding plagiarism and incorporating sources to formatting papers, using in-text citations, and creating reference lists. Work through practical activities to build your confidence in applying APA style to your academic assignments.

Module 1 Plagiarism Find out what constitutes plagiarism and how you can avoid plagiarizing in your own work. Open module (opens in a new tab) Download Activity Transcript for Module 1: Plagiarism
Module 2 Introduction to APA Papers Get an introduction to APA style and find out what to look for when researching for an APA paper. Open module (opens in a new tab) Download Activity Transcript for Module 2: Introduction to APA Papers
Module 3 Incorporating Sources Learn how to incorporate information into your paper using paraphrasing, direct quotes, and in-text citations. Open module (opens in a new tab) Download Activity Transcript for Module 3: Incorporating Sources
Module 4 General Format Learn how to format your paper and create a title page using APA guidelines. Open module (opens in a new tab) Download Activity Transcript for Module 4: General Format
Module 5 Creating an APA Reference Page Learn how to format a reference page and create citations for different types of sources. Open module (opens in a new tab) Download Activity Transcript for Module 5: Creating an APA Reference Page

Other Citation Resources

For spelling reference, IEEE uses The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. For guidance on grammar and source styles not included in the IEEE Editorial Style Manual, consult The Chicago Manual of Style, published by the University of Chicago Press.

  • EasyBib Plagiarism Checker (opens in a new tab)
    This tool allows you to check your writing for passages copied from another source, as well as for grammar errors. The plagiarism checker requires you to sign up for a paid account.
  • Grammarly Plagiarism Checker (opens in a new tab)
    This free tool allows you to upload or copy and paste your writing to check for text that was copied from elsewhere. This tool will also give you feedback on grammar, spelling, and other writing issues.
  • Scribbr Plagiarism Checker (opens in a new tab)
    Using Turnitin.com to compare your document to the world’s largest content database, covering 99.3 billion web pages, 8 million publications and over 20 languages. Scribbr is free but to see the suggestions you have to upgrade (for a fee) to premium.

The Literature Review is a comprehensive scan of previously published research on a specific topic. Authors use the literature review to provide readers with a current understanding of the topic, and identify existing research gaps. Literature reviews usually investigate peer reviewed literature as these research papers have undergone a thorough review for quality before being selected for publication.

Looking for resources on how to cite AI? Check out our Responsible AI Use guide.
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