Proper documentation of sources used for a project, presentation or research paper is an important component of the research process. A well-developed bibliography and footnotes allow you, the student, to highlight your hard work while contributing to academic conversations within and outside of the classroom. Documentation makes it possible for anyone reading your work to clearly recognize your own original thinking. And of course, proper documentation is the means of avoiding accusations of plagiarism. Some kinds of projects may not require a formal bibliography: blog postings may simply have links to sources; a written bibliography may not be required for a PowerPoint presentation. In all cases however, you should give credit for any information or ideas that are not your own.
Documentation begins with the first source you consult for your project. As you begin your research, follow these steps:
Most of this tutorial addresses issues that arise while writing a research paper. Projects that are not formal research papers may require a different method for giving credit to a source. Take a look at these options:
If you are preparing a PowerPoint presentation
If you are posting to an online site such as a blog
You can set up or update your Noodlebib account by clicking this link:
Be sure to select "an account linked to a school library." Then enter the school library username: menlo, and the password: knights. If you have an account but haven't used it in a while you may need to revalidate your account. Log on, enter the passwords above and you'll be all set.
Click here if you have a question or comment about this tutorial.