Citation Management Tools
RefWorks at ProQuest: RefWorks is a web-based bibliography and database manager that allows you to create your own personal database by importing references from text files or online databases and other various sources. On-campus and off-campus access available.
- Create a RefWorks account:
- First-time users should create a personal account by clicking the link “create account.” Sign up with your PVAMU email address and password.
- Important: DO NOT use the link “Use login from my institution.”
- After creating an account, sign in using the email address and password you created.
- Four Easy Steps for Getting Started on RefWorks:
- Log in to RefWorks with your RefWorks account information.
- From a browser such as Google Chrome, go to the library homepage at https://www.pvamu.edu/library/
– Enter a search term in the Discovery Search box. A list of search results will display according to your search terms. - Mark articles from the results:
– Mark the articles you wish to have citations for. This procedure is different depending on which resource you are using. - Export to RefWorks.
– After marking the articles, select download or export to RefWorks, depending on the resource you are using.
– A prompt should appear displaying the option to create a document with the citation results.
– The results of your search should also be in your RefWorks account.
- Learn more about RefWorks https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/RefWorks
- RefWorks working with Microsoft Word — For users of Microsoft Word (newer than the 2016 version), download RefWorks Citation Manager (RCM). How to install RefWorks Citation Manager Add-ins for Microsoft Word
Other Open Source Citation Tools:
Zotero — an open source citation management tool
Getting started with Zotero:
Step 1: Download the software application AND the browser connector.
Step 2. Open Zotero. In your browser, search for an article in a database.
Step 3. Click the Zotero icon at the top of your browser to save a citation from that page. It will look different depending on the number and types of citations listed.
Step 4. While writing your paper, use the Zotero tab in Word to insert citations and a bibliography.
Step 5. See the Zotero Quick Start Guide for more information.
Mendeley — an open source citation management tool
Free downloads available for desktops, browser extensions, Microsoft Word Add-ins, and mobile applications. Users can sign up for a free account to manage citations in the web-based reference portal. New feature: Mendeley Cite — Citation add-in for Microsoft® Word
Citation Styles:
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- Purdue Owl Writing Lab
- APA Style (7th Ed.)
- APA Style Reference Examples (7th Ed.)
- APA Reference Style 7th ed.: changes from 6th ed.
- APA Reference List Style Guide (6th Ed.)
- Turabian/Chicago Citation Style Overview
- The Chicago Manual of Style Online
- MLA Citation Formats 8th Edition
- MLA Handbook 8th edition (print book on Library Reference Bookshelf)
- How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography
- Annotated Bibliography Samples
Print Books in the library:
AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors
Location: 1st Floor Reference Desk — R119 .A533 2007
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian)
Location(s): 1st Floor Reference Desk — LB2369.TB 1996
MLA Handbook
Location: 1st Floor Reference Desk — PE1478.M57
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
The APA handbook 6th ed. • Location: 1st Floor Reference Desk — BF76.7.C66 2010
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
The APA handbook 7th ed. • Location: 1st Floor Reference Desk — BF76.7 .P83 2020
Older editions in Stacks
Writing the Paper – Getting Started
Writing a research paper can be challenging. With the right tools and resources, the process can be less complicated. The resources below have been developed to help improve the process. Remember the first rule of using a library: Help is Always Available!
Writing Tips:
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- Writing a Research Paper. Planning Your Project. Develop a research question. Pick a topic that you care about; Find a question,…
- Analysis. Summary vs. Analysis. Summarizing – How Do You Know if You’re Doing It?
- Editing-finding exactly the right word to express a thought can result in writing that is really worth
- APA Format and Citation
- Avoiding Plagiarism. Discussion : What is plagiarism? What does plagiarism look like? How do we plagiarize? How do we avoid …
- Transitions. What is a transition ? Transitions are words, phrases, sentences or even paragraphs that relate …
- Annotated bibliographies assist writer in the early stages of research gathering. By taking the time to write a brief summary and evaluation of each source you
- Passive Voice
- Grammarly – Software for writing
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Finding Material
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- Find Books – The John B. Coleman Library Online Catalog – Books and other materials you may check out.
- Find Journal Articles – Search the EBSCO Discovery Search for abstracts and full-text.
- Find Articles when you have the Journal Title – E-Journals
- Find Databases A to Z by subject
- Find Government Documents – John B. Coleman Library is a U.S. Depository – Located in the Periodicals Area.
- Find material on Reserve – Your instructor may have placed items on Reserve, located at the Circulation Front Desk.
- Find material on the history of Prairie View – Special Collections/Archives is located on the fifth floor of the Library. Call or email for the availability of material on your topic.
- Interlibrary Loan allows you to order books and articles we do not own. Look for the “Request from ILL” link when searching for articles and books.
- Google Scholar at https://scholar.google.com/ is a convenient site to search for your topics. It links the search results to the PV full text available. How to set up.
- WorldCat at https://worldcat.org/ is an open source for everything around the world. Try the new and improved interface.
- Library course/subject guides created by the librarians are good sources for research.
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Evaluation & Preparation
Copyright – John B. Coleman Library observes the United States copyright legislation (title 17, U.S. Code). If you need help in interpreting copyright please see the Copyright Office Website for assistance.
Library Subject Guides:
Evaluating Webpages: Is Your Website Credible? – Finding information on the World Wide Web is one thing, trusting it is another. You must be a critical consumer of materials you find on the Web. Quality and validity are not guaranteed when anyone can publish anything, anytime, without the benefit of scholarly peer review. Use this guide to analyze the websites you find.
Help
Ask at the Reference Desk for assistance or for an appointment with a Liaison Librarian.
Ask a Librarian – By phone – (936) 261-1535 or by email askalibrarian@pvamu.edu
Writing Center – The Prairie View Writing Center is here to assist you!
Getting Feedback – Feedback from someone else about your writing.
Assistance from the Northwest Houston Center – (713) 790-7282 by email at ejbrumfield@pvamu.edu
Access from home and off campus:
All Faculty, Staff, and Students are required to enter their network ID and network password to access the Library’s electronic resources from off campus.
Learn about how to access library resources remotely.