SPE 103-002 - Tim Curtis - Spring 2024

What is a citation?

A citation is all the information about a given source organized according to a standard format or citation style guide.

MLA, APA and Chicago Style are used in classes at Oakton College.

Citations include information such as

• author's name,
• title of the book, article or website,
• name of the magazine or journal,
• date published or updated
• if the information was found in print or online

Using citations gives credit to an author or creator for their research, writings and ideas.

Listed below are examples of APA & MLA citation formats and one example of an article citation.

APA Citation

Format:

Author(s) of article. (Year, month, day published). Title of article. Title of Magazine, URL or DOI

Example:

Bosker, Bianca.(2016, Sept.). Big in Canada: Throwing Axes for Fun. The Atlantic, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/09/canada/492749.

MLA Citation

Format:

Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical, Day Month Year, URL

Example: 

Bosker, Bianca. "Big in Canada: Throwing Axes for Fun." The Atlantic, Sept. 2016, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/09/canada/492749.

For more information and help

• Check the APA page or the MLA page on this guide
• Explore the Cite It Right! online guide
• Click the links to the COD Library Citation page or the Purdue OWL Citation page in the box below
• OR
• Ask a Librarian!  - in person on either campus or online with the Ask a Librarian chat