There are several different styles, or formats, that you can use to cite your sources. These styles are created and developed by scholarly organizations and publishers, and aim to provide clarity and consistency. The preferred citation style usually depends on the academic discipline involved.

For this class you are required to use the Journal of Human Evolution's citation format.  For specifics, see the journal's Guidelines for Authors.

Why cite?

• Give credit to the ideas, words and works of others
• Give your readers the information necessary to find your sources
• Avoid plagiarism

The purpose of citing your sources is to provide your reader with the information they need in order to find and read the sources themselves. Regardless of the citation style or type of resource, the elements in a citation always include author name, title of the work, and date of publication. Book citations include publisher name and location. Journal, magazine, and newspaper articles include the journal, magazine, or newspaper title, volume and page number, and date; and online sources often include the URL where the document is located and the date the item was retrieved and/or a DOI (digital object indentifier).

Citation Managers are software applications that will help you…

• Gather references automatically from article databases while you research
• Format manuscripts and citations in a variety of styles (MLA, APA, Turabian, etc.)
• Create and organize a personal research database of references, images and PDFs
• Share your databases with colleagues around the world
• Transfer references among RefWorks, EndNote Web, EndNote, and Zotero.

Choosing a Citation Manager

The Vassar Library provides access to RefWorks for all Vassar students, faculty and staff.  Zotero is a free, open source Firefox extension.