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The Best Citation Format for College Preparation

College Preparation

Monday, 13 August 2018

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The 3 most important citation formats are APA, MLA, and Chicago. It's challenging to figure out which one is the best citation format for preparing your teen for college. Let me clue you in to the best path for optimum success.

First of all, though, you might be wondering, "What is a citation format?"

Students will need to somehow cite sources of information used in college papers. The citation is a note that gives enough information for anyone to look up the source in the library, or find it on Google with ease.

And now you are probably thinking, "What in the world!? What does that mean?"

Here is an example of the different styles of citing sources from Purdue Online Writing Lab . This is an example of how the different citation styles quote a magazine article.

MLS Style

Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too Close Call." Time 20 Nov. 2000: 70-71. Print.

APA Style

Poniewozik, J. (2000, November 20). TV makes a too-close call. Time, 156(21), 70–71.

Chicago Style

Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close Call." Time, November 20, 2000.

Notice how they all look somewhat similar and yet completely different at the same time. That's why it's important to choose the BEST citation format for your college bound teens.

Quick quiz! Did you learn a citation style in high school? And can you still remember how to do it? Maybe a better question is simpler. Do you know what it means to cite a source?

So here is the answer ....

Are you ready?

Because your child does need to know what it means to cite a source, even if they don't remember exactly how to do it in 30 years. That's why I can tell you with confidence the best citation format for college preparation.

The answer is: ANY OF THOSE would be the BEST for your child!

There are three good reasons why ANY STYLE is the BEST style.

1. When you learn how ANY citation style, you have learned to follow detailed and specific directions on how to cite sources.

2. When you learn ANY citation style, you know how to follow the directions for the other styles once you just look up the other style.

3. Students will be required to cite with ANY styles at some point in college. College professors each have their own preference on style, so it's a class-by-class determination on which style to use.

Befuddled by English? Ready my quick and easy book, " Easy English for Simple Homeschooling: How to Teach, Assess, and Document High School English ." Written in plain English, it offers encouragement and tips for teaching writing, determining what makes an English credit, determining grades, teaching unique learners, and more.

Don't use a citation style for everything your child writes, but do allow them to enjoy the crazy-making, head-scratching citation style of your choice at least one in high school. Everyone should experience that challenge at least one time, don't you think?