How does the citation look like

A citation refers to the identification of an adopted idea/text/figure and the source from which it is taken. Every citation, therefore, consists of two parts

  1. in-text citation: a citation within the text of the work, brief identification of the source text through the author’s name and year of publication,
  2. reference list entry: a detailed citation entry in the references containing all necessary identification details needed to locate the source document.

These two parts of a citation must be linked, and with few exceptions, each in-text citation must have a corresponding entry in the bibliography. The specific format of both parts of the citation can vary depending on the identification details provided and their order. The format always depends on the citation style being used. At this university, you follow the APA 7th ed. citation style.

In-text Citation

Always mark the adopted idea as specified by the chosen citation style. The indication must reflect the way in which we have adopted the idea. Generaly there are two methods for that: quotation (direct citation) and paraphrase.

Quotations (verbatim)

You have taken the text directly from the original work, exactly as it was. You did not make any modifications. If you borrowed from a foreign-language source, you translated the text verbatim. How to handle this in the text?

  1. Clearly mark the borrowed text graphically. Quotation marks and italics are most commonly used.
  2. According to the rules of the citation style, there is always a reference to the source following the borrowed text, including the identification of the specific page.

In an academic text, direct citations should not exceed approximately 10%.

Use this method sparingly. Resort to it only when absolutely necessary.

Citations from Foreign-Language Sources

If you wish to cite a foreign-language source using a direct (verbatim) citation, there are two possible approaches. It is advisable to consult with your supervisor on which method to choose.

  • You can insert the citation into the text of your work in its original language and provide your own translation in parentheses (or in a footnote).
  • You can translate the citation verbatim and note in parentheses that it is your own translation.

Paraphrasing (expressing someone else’s ideas in your own words)

Describe the ideas of others in your own words, but without altering their meaning. This may also involve summarizing a text, creating your own table from borrowed data, etc. The text does not need to have a special format (italics or quotation marks).

Paraphrasing always includes a reference to the source, again according to the rules of the APA style.

Reference list entry

The References are placed at the end of the work and contains all the sources you have used in the work.

The specific format of the References is determined by the APA style  but may also be adjusted by the formal requirements from the supervisor.

An entry should include the details by which the source (e.g., a book, article, report, internal document) can be identified and possibly located. Most commonly, an entry includes information about the authors, the title of the document, the date of publication (creation), the publisher, etc.