"Dr. Duncan, how do I cite...?"
Easy resources for developing attribution competencies without depending on the teacher as a dictionary

Even at the advanced stage of a master's program, some folks ask, "Dr. Duncan, how do I cite..." After five or six years of academic training, we might want to discover the sources to help us answer our questions rather than expecting a professor to be a dictionary.

This post will review the fundamentals of attribution across different styles and discuss essential tools to help you quickly become proficient at citing and referencing so you never have to ask a teacher, "How do I cite a source?"

Fundamentals of attribution are similar across styles

Regardless of the attribution style, the substance of attribution is almost universal. In short, 

• A citation includes the author and date.
  • The citation should provide the page or paragraph number if the borrowed idea contains a quote.
• A reference includes the author, date, title, publisher, and source [like publisher or website information]. 

The contents of attributions are usually similar, regardless of the application or style. For example, you will need the same information about your source for attribution in APA, MLA, Chicago, AP, Harvard, and other styles. 

While the substance of attributions remains similar across styles, the structure of citations and references differs depending on the style. Fortunately, students don't need to get confused by the mechanics of different styles. They need to learn the one style required by their program.

APA is a training tool; Know the style for each application

Understanding what goes into citations and references is critical because you will only use APA in some academic settings or when submitting papers to publications requiring APA. 

Critical: APA is a training tool you must use in many academic settings and when submitting papers to academic journals. You're learning the research and attribution process the "client" (your program) requires. In the real world, you must know the style of every application. Different industries, disciplines, publications, and applications require different styles. For example, technical documents may require IEE or another numbered system, while a press release may require Associated Press style. 

Similarly, most magazines have styles unique to their publications. Even the best articles and documents can get rejected with the following statement: "Uses incorrect style." Also, most established organizations have graphic standards and guides designed to protect the brand consistently across media channels.

Tools for becoming autonomous in attributions

Students and professionals may find the intimidating task of citing and referencing sources relatively easy when they use the right tools. This section discusses essential tools students can use to answer their "How do I cite..." questions. These tools include online citation and reference generation forms for training and manual attribution management, MS Word Citations & Bibliography Tool> for automated attribution management, specialized research management tools for advanced applications, and the source for all information about APA style, the APA Style and Grammar Guidelines> website.

Online reference and citation generation forms for training and manual attribution management

Some students use online citation and reference generation tools to build and manage citations and references manually. The online citation and reference forms usually follow a process like this:

1. Select the type of source.
2. Fill out the form.
3. Generate your citation and reference.
4. Copy and paste the attribution into your document. 
5. Manually apply the different attribution elements for each application of the source.
6. Manually arrange the sources on the references page, carefully preserving the formatting.

The online citation and reference tools are suitable for training purposes. However, they're like using a computer to do things manually. They're cumbersome, repetitive, and ineffective. Using a manual tool at the advanced stages of a Master's program is like trying to compete in the Tour de France on a toddler bike with training wheels. It will help you answer the "How do I cite...?" question and learn the basics of attributions. However, we must understand that using computers to do things manually will limit our effectiveness and productivity at school and work.

MS Word Citations & Bibliography Tool for automated attribution management

I strongly recommend removing the training wheels and learning to automate citations and references using the Citations & Bibliography Tool under Microsoft Word References Tab>. The Citations & Bibliography Tool uses a similar format for entering the source information. So, if you know how to use an online citation generator, you know how to enter sources into the Word Citations & Bibliography Tool.

A vast difference is that filling out the form in the Word Citations & Bibliography Tool places the information in a database that automatically allows you to cite and reference sources across documents. Enter the information once, and automatically apply it anywhere in the document and across documents forever. 

In the Citations & Bibliography Tool,

1. Select the source type and fill in the form. 
2. Put the cursor where your citation belongs and select the source from the database. 

When generating the references page,

1. Put the cursor in the References section, then select "Bibliography > References.
2. Word automatically generates your References page in less than a second. 
3. The References page automatically updates as you add additional sources.

In addition to automating the attributions, the Citations & Bibliography Tool allows you to automatically change your style for different applications with a single click. For example, if you develop a project for school that you would like to adapt for work, select an appropriate professional style, like IEEE. Word will automatically convert all citations and references into the style you choose. 

Spending 10 minutes learning how to use the Citations & Bibliography Tool will save you hundreds of hours in an academic program, improve the professionalism of your work, and improve learning across the curriculum. Here are the Microsoft training pages for the MS Word Reference Tab:

• Create a bibliography, citations, and references

• Add citations in a Word document

Dedicated reference management tools

Advanced researchers might benefit from using specialized reference management software like EndNote, RefWorks, Zotero, and Mendeley. These tools offer features that exceed what's available in the Word Citations & Bibliography Tool. However, they can introduce unnecessary costs and complexity for most college students and business writers.

The integrated Word Citations & Bibliography Tool meets the needs of almost all academic and professional applications by streamlining your workflow, ensuring your citations are accurate and properly formatted, storing your sources, and keeping the research process simple and efficient. If your work demands the highest level of accuracy and extensive research management capabilities beyond what Word offers, consider the dedicated reference management application specific to your needs. 

Get the answer from the source: APA Style and Grammar Guidelines.

If you're still uncomfortable with the answers from the above tools, go directly to the source, the APA Style guide>.

BONUS: Why do teachers answer questions with questions?

Teachers use the Socratic Method to foster critical thinking and self-reliance in learners. This method involves responding to questions about basic concepts with additional questions and guiding students to sources where they can discover answers themselves.

Some students may feel frustrated when teachers answer questions with questions. However, acting as a dictionary doesn't benefit students. The role of a Socratic teacher is to help students become self-sufficient in their learning journey.

Fortunately, the answers are often easily accessible. Mastering attribution skills is straightforward, and automating this process can set you apart by showcasing your command of practices that others find challenging. When teachers answer questions with questions, recognize they are helping you enhance your academic skills and preparing you for a lifetime of learning and problem-solving.

Reflection questions

• Why is it essential for Master's students to become autonomous in learning by knowing how to find answers to their questions?
• Critically assess your approach to attributions. Are you limited by the tools or processes you use? How can you improve productivity and effectiveness by automating the process?

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