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Engineering Science

This guide will get you started with links to books, articles, websites and more about engineering science

What is a citation?

A citation is required whenever you quote directly from a source, refer to it, or paraphrase it. Sources come in a variety of different formats, such as books, articles, videos, audio recordings, unpublished materials, and more.

According to the APA Publication Manual, you should

cite the work of those individuals whose ideas, theories, or research have directly influenced your work. The works you cite provide key background information, support or dispute your thesis, or offer critical definitions and data. Cite only works that you have read and ideas that you have incorporated into your writing. In addition to crediting the ideas of others that you used to develop your thesis, provide documentation for all facts and figures that are not common knowledge. (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 253)


Regardless of the style, a citation typically includes:

  • Name of author(s)
  • Year of publication
  • Title of work (article, book chapter, paper)
  • Source (peer-reviewed journal, book, conference proceeding, technical report)
  • Format information
  • Date accessed by you
  • Page numbers used

Depending on the class, your instructor may require a particular style. If not, then choose a style (APA, Chicago, MLA) and stick with it throughout your work.

Citation Management Tools & Resources

This is the web-based version of EndNote Desktop. Register/signup at my.endnote.com before downloading the desktop version. Click here for the EndNote online Quick Reference Guide.

Register/signup at my.endnote.com before downloading the desktop version! This software is offered by NMT's ITC Department. To receive an EndNote installer and serial number, email the ITC help desk.

A free reference management and academic social network, Mendeley can help you organize your research, collaborate with others online, and discover the latest research. Features include the ability to automatically generate bibliographies, import papers from other research software, discover relevant papers based on what you're reading, online access to your papers, and apps for iOS and Android.

A free, open-source citation management tool that is available as a standalone program or an extension in Chrome and Firefox. Like other reference management tools, Zotero offers plugins for Microsoft Word and Open Office so you can insert citations as you write.

Find detailed guides to APA, Chicago, and MLA citation styles.

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