WEOC Skills Lab

Your Complete Guide to Citing Sources Like a Pro

A straightforward approach

If you write non-fiction, you know that giving writers credit for their work is the foundation of journalistic integrity. The best way to make sure people know where you got the information is to cite the author(s). However, some writers, new to non-fiction, may be unfamiliar with the process. I created this guide for newbies, veterans, or anyone in need of further instruction.

Welcome to our WEOC Skills Lab. While we usually share tips with our members, anyone can benefit from learning how to cite like a pro. When you use proper citations, you develop and maintain your integrity as a writer. Secondly, readers can understand your theoretical basis for claims made throughout the paper. Lastly, citations help you to keep a guide to your research. You can reflect on what you’ve read and continue to analyze the relevance of these sources as time progresses.

For this guide, I used citationmachine.net. However, the internet has many free resources that can help you categorize and cite sources properly. This guide will show you how to create a citation step by step, with screenshots, in case you get lost along the way.

Our group of Writers and Editors of Color is currently working on our first special project — The Case for the 1619 Project. Look out for our first edition. We will celebrate Juneteeth by addressing criticisms of the case. So, together, we’ve been working to elevate our skills.

Quality matters for all writers, but it means something special for Black writers. We live knowing that white people comb through our work, looking for errors. That’s why citing properly is a fundamental part of Black excellence. It ensures that we mean what we say, stand by what we say, and have respected the scholars who have inspired us along the way.

As a collective, we want to elevate our members’ writing to meet professional standards. This will empower our members to obtain new, exciting, and worthwhile writing opportunities. Remember, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but not a separate set of facts.

The fight for racial equity is rooted in history, science, and legal theory. Using proper citations will ensure writers who come after us will follow our roadmap, understand our perspective, and carry the torch onto the next generation. Without further ado, here is your complete guide to citing sources like a pro.