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Literature Review - A Self-Guided Tutorial: 4. Manage

Managing Your References

Manage your references

As part of your lit review, you'll need to provide a list of references -- your professors want to know where you found your information.

Your professor will also require that you use a specific format ("style") for citing your references, such as one of these: 

Save and organize your sources as you go

  1. Find a system that works for you
    • Email
    • Download
    • Database folders
    • Reference management tools
  2. Put them in the same place every time
  3. Take notes - write summaries, notes, and thoughts as you read
  4. Give your files names that make sense for you

Contact us for help!

Regardless of format, you must include the same basic bibliographic information when citing a source.

For help with your citations:

Why do I have to cite my sources?

Citations are important because:

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They help others find the information that you used.

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They help establish the credibility of your own research.

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They connect your work to the work of other scholars.

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It is one way that scholars enter into a dialogue with each other.

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It is a way to honor and acknowledge the work of others who have made your own research possible.

Reference Management

Tips to help store your data/information:

Most reference management tools will let you:

  • Create your own database of references
  • Organize references with folders
  • Import references from library databases or websites
  • Create references, in-text citations, and bibliographies
  • Format citations in different styles: MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian, MLA, Harvard, etc.
RefWorks is a web-based reference manager (paid for by the library - free for UIW students, faculty, and staff to use).
Other reference management tools:
Staff LADR