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Library Research Skills for Biologists

How do I format a citation?

There are a few citation styles that are used in the sciences.

Two popular ones are: APA and CSE (Council of Science Editors). Your professor will let you know which one they prefer, or you can ask.
Guides to these citation styles are listed on the How to Cite guide (see link below). Click on the Major Styles tab.

Summon also makes it very easy to create your citations.

How do I treat common knowledge vs. uncommon knowledge in a paper?

  • if the information is common knowledge, you do not have to cite the fact or material that you are referring to.
  • If the information is not common knowledge, you must cite the material/fact by paraphrasing, quoting, or summarizing if you wish to include it in your paper.