Using Citations in the Business World and in Business School Classes
Citations enhance the credibility of your argument and simplify the reader's ability to locate the source of your information. Of course, using citations also shows that you haven't plagiarized your material.
Q: Which citation format should I use when writing for Kogod School of Business professors?
A: The answer is a bit complicated. Here are some guidelines.
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Defer to your professor. If your professor specifies a particular citation format, of course you should use it. This website is a good place to start. You can also consult the style manuals in the AU Library's reference section (on the first floor to the right of the reference desk).
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If your professor does not specify a particular style, use APA. APA, the formatting style of the American Psychological Association, is the most commonly used method of citing sources in the social sciences. It requires that you cite information within the text (in contrast to creating separate footnotes). It is the most commonly used style in business writing.
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Here is a sample student marketing paper that uses APA.
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If you're told to use footnotes, use Chicago/Turabian. Here's a sample student paper using Chicago/Turabian and additional examples.
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This website from textbook author Diana Hacker is also very helpful
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The AU library has a helpful, detailed website.
Q: What about MLA?
A: You may have used the MLA (Modern Language Association) style of citations for other college writing, and your Kogod professor may allow you to use it. However, we recommend that you also become familiar with either APA or Chicago/Turabian, as they are more widely used in the business world. If you use MLA, easybib.com can make your job easier.
Q: What about in the business world?
A: You will find that citations are often done more informally. Ask your supervisor or consult your company's style manual. Sometimes you will see that the information source is simply embedded within the text itself, as in this example: "A recent survey by employment site Vault.com says 81% of hiring managers look more favorably on job candidates with virtual [degrees] than they did five years ago." And sometimes footnotes will not conform to any particular style, as in this report.
