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English 101 (College Writing) Research Guide: Citing Sources

Citing & Evaluating Resources

CCC Documents

External links

Need help citing sources?  Librarians are citation specialists.

Call the Reference Desk at 410-386-8340 or email  ref_desk@carrollcc.edu

CCC Documents

External links

Need help citing sources?  Librarians are citation specialists.

Call the Reference Desk at 410-386-8340 or email  ref_desk@carrollcc.edu

It generates a Word document including all of the punctuation and formatting after the user enters the parts of the citation into a work form.

Flowchart for troubleshooting Noodlebib account

Having trouble getting into NoodleBib? Check out our account flowchart above, or download a PDF version below:

If you do not give proper credit to the sources of the ideas and quotations of others in your work, you are plagiarizing the information.

Choosing quality sources is an important part of research.  Use the handout and tutorial below to help you:

  • Select the best source/s for your information need and
  • Decide whether or not a source is reputable and provides accurate information that you can rely on for your project. 

Remember that your final product will only be as good as the sources you use.  Choose carefully!

How do I cite...

Facebook post

  • Basic format (Because Facebook posts can be edited, it is a good idea to add an access date):
    • Last name, First Name or Account Name. Description of post. Facebook, Day Month Year of post, Time of post, URL. Accessed Day Month Year post was viewed.
  • Example:
    • Carroll Community College. Photo of student studying. Facebook, 27 Feb. 2022, 10:00 AM, facebook.com/carrollccedu/photos/a.10150177657020401. Accessed 7 Mar. 2022.

Instagram post

  • Basic format:
    • Last name, First name [@username]. Description of image. Instagram, Day Month Year of post, Time of post, URL.
  • Example:
    • National Geographic [@natgeo]. Photo of a panda cub on a scale in China. Instagram, 6 Mar. 2022, 11:15 PM, instagram.com/p/CayZ8ZOtSnk/.

X post (Twitter)

  • Basic format:
    • Last name, First name if available [@handle]. "The entire tweet word-for-word, up to 20 words." X, Day Month Year of Post, Time of Post, URL.
  • Example:
    • Encyclopaedia Britannica [@Britannica]. "‘Humpty Dumpty’ does not explicitly state that the subject is an egg." X, 14 Apr. 2024, x.com/Britannica/status/1779536895069814795.

TikTok

  • Basic format:
    • Last name, First name [@username]. "Full text of caption including hashtags." TikTok, year posted, URL.
  • Example:
    • Penguin, Oscar [@libechillbro]. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week! #rootbeerfloats #NLW." TikTok, 2021, tiktok.com/x2sKUu.

YouTube or Vimeo video

  • Basic format:
    • Last name, First name of video creator, or Username of creator. "Title of Video." Title of Website, uploaded by Username, Day Month Year of post, URL of video.
  • Example:
    • Sethi, Ramit. "How to Write a Winning Resume, with Ramit Sethi." YouTube, uploaded by I Will Teach You to Be Rich, 23 June 2015, youtube.com/watch?v=_0fjkKCsM1w.

How do I cite...

Movie

  • Basic format:
    • Title of Movie. Contributor(s). Publisher/Production Company, Year of release.
  • Film viewed through an app (TV/phone/mobile)
    • Zombieland. Columbia / Sony Pictures, 2009. Amazon Prime Video app.
  • Film viewed on physical media (DVD/Blu-Ray)
    • Kubo and the Two Strings. Directed by Travis Knight, Universal / Focus, 2016. Blu-Ray.

TV series

  • Citing an entire TV series
    • Game of Thrones. Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, HBO Entertainment, 2011-2019.

TV episode

  • TV Episode viewed as a Television Broadcast
    • "The Ricks Must Be Crazy." Rick and Morty, created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, season 2, episode 6, Greenportal / Cartoon Network, 19 July 2021.

Video game

  • Tip: Include the version of the game and the platform on which it's played
    • Pac-Man. Windows PC version, Namco Networks, 2009.
    • Fortnite. Battle Royale Mode, PS4 Pro, 2017.

Music album

  • Album accessed through Spotify (or other music streaming app)
    • Beyoncé. Lemonade. Parkwood Entertainment, 2016. Spotify, open.spotify.com/album/7dK54iZuOxXFarGhXwEXfF.

Song

  • Single track from a recording (CD, Vinyl, App, etc.)
    • AC/DC. "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution." Recorded 25 July 1980. Back in Black, Columbia, 2003. CD.
  • Lyrics website
    • Parton, Dolly. "Coat of Many Colors." 1969. Genius, genius.com/Dolly-parton-coat-of-many-colors-lyrics.

Podcast

  • Episode of a podcast (include publisher or podcast network if applicable):
    • Koenig, Sarah, host. "The Alibi." Serial, season 1, episode 1, WBEZ, 3 Oct. 2014, serialpodcast.org/season-one/1/the-alibi.