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Research 101

In this guide, you’ll learn about the steps in the research process including how to develop a research question, identify keywords, find, evaluate, and cite information sources and more.

Introduction to Citations

Citation Generators

No citation generator is perfect - especially against user error. If you give a citation generator incorrect information, it will probably give you an inaccurate citation. Check your input information carefully as you enter it to ensure the accuracy of the final product.

EasyBib

Citation Machine

Owl Purdue

Database Citations and Tools

You will save yourself a lot of time and trouble by copying preformatted citations from various databases. Many, but not all, databases will offer a citation formatted according to MLA. Look for a link or icon called "cite", or "citation", or sometimes just a quotemark ("). Always check your preformatted citations against the MLA 8th edition cheatsheet, because the citations are done by computer, not by a human.

Here is an example from the EbscoHost database showing the citation icon at the far right-hand side:EbscoHost citation icon

Click on the "Cite" icon, then choose "MLA":MLA citation from EbscoHost

After copying and pasting the citation into your Works Cited page, you would check the citation against the MLA cheatsheet to verify that it is correct.