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DEVS 361: Policy Planning & Policy Advocacy

Why cite your sources?

When writing your paper it is likely you will use quotes from other scholars and/or their ideas or information from their research.  You must acknowledge the work of others in your paper. Knowing how to cite another person's work properly helps you to:

  • give credit and acknowledge their ideas
  • avoid plagiarism and uphold the principles of academic integrity
  • direct readers to the sources on which your research is based

How to cite your sources

Citation Styles are a set of rules or standards established by a specific society, association or publisher for documenting various sources of information. These sources of information may include journal articles, books, thesis, online sources, unpublished manuscripts, magazines, grey literature, etc. Detailed descriptions of the citation styles (often known as Style Manuals or Publication Manuals) can be found on the websites of those societies, associations or publishers who set and maintain the citation standards. Styles may be revised from time to time in which case new or up-dated Manuals are released. It is a good practice to consult the original Publication Manuals for updates.

DEVS 361 requires that you use the American Sociological Association (ASA) citation style.  You can find information and instructions on how to cite your sources using this style here:

ASA Style (American Sociological Association)

7th edition