UTEP Library Research Guides: Speech-Language Pathology: APA Citation + Avoiding Plagiarism

Need to Keep Track of Your References? Try RefWorks!

RefWorks is a feature-rich citation management tool, but does not work well with screen-reader technology like JAWS, in our experience.

*The above image was created by NYU Libraries, and can be found on their excellent RefWorks guide here.

Do I have to download anything to use RefWorks? No! RefWorks is a web-based tool, so you can use if from any device with an internet browser.
Can groups create a RefWorks account? Yes. RefWorks does not limit the number of accounts you create. Every account can have two types of access: full and read-only.
How many references can I store in RefWorks? You may save an unlimited number of references within your RefWorks account. There is no limit on the amount of folders you can create either.
Is there a limit to the data I can put in the notes, abstracts and attachments?The notes, abstracts and attachments fields are limited to 5GB of information.
What happens when I graduate or if I leave UTEP? You keep your RefWorks account and everything in it for life! You can continue using it even when you are no longer affiliated with UTEP. Links to articles within the account will depend on your UTEP affiliation, but all references and attachments will remain accessible.
Where can I ask more questions about RefWorks, or request a one-on-one tutorial? Ask a librarian at the Access Services Desk:
- ask@utep.libanswers.com
- 915-747-5643
- libanswers.utep.edu [ask us using the form on that page]

You only need to watch up to the 1 minute, 3 second mark to see the steps needed to create a reference list with RefWorks.

APA Citation

Citing your sources is an important part of the writing process. It helps you:

Give credit to those whose thoughts and ideas you've used in your work
Provide a path back to the works you used as influence or evidence for your reader/professor
Avoid plagiarism

Verify which citation style your professor expects you to use. The most common citation format for the social sciences and is the American Psychological Association (APA). You can use a copy of the most current, official APA style manual in the Library Building:

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association - American Psychological Association

Call Number: BF76.7 .P83 2010

ISBN: 1433805618

Publication Date: 2010 6th edition

Location: REF DESK (2nd floor)

Online APA Tools/Generators/Guides:

Purdue OWL APA Home
Examples of what info to include in your references, what order to put it in, and for almost every imaginable situation. See "In Text Citations" and "Reference List" links to the left for the most useful content.
Purdue OWL Citation Chart
A shortcut chart showing how to cite different materials in MLA, APA, and Chicago style.
How to Format an APA Paper
A visual guide from UTEP's Writing Center shows all the details you need to account for when formatting an APA paper.
Citation Machine- APA Journal Article Citation Generator
Plug in the appropriate info, and this site will generate an APA-style reference for you. (not 100% fool-proof, but a good head start at the very least)

Free Writing Help for UTEP Students @ UWC

If you need writting assistance and/or need to have your bibliography reviewed for proper citation; visit the UTEP Writing Center, located on the 2nd (entry) floor of the library.

Avoid Plagiarism

PLAGIARISM: the act of using another's words or ideas while presenting them as your own by not providing credit to the originator of the words or ideas.

Academic Dishonesty @ UTEP
UTEP's Student Affairs' Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution has information about academic dishonesty (which includes plagiarism), and how it is dealt with at UTEP.

Sometimes you might plagiarize on accident!

Here are 4 common ways people accidentally plagiarize:

The two are different, but using both can keep you from plagiarizing others' work.