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Drawing: Citation

Why Cite?

Whenever you use an outside resource in your work-- whether you are quoting, referring, or appropriating-- you must give credit. You should cite all books, articles, websites, images, etc. that inform your work, just as you would want others to give credit to what you create. Properly formatted citations in an accepted style (MLA, Chicago, etc.) are essential to maintaining artistic and scholarly conversations. 

Your instructors have most likely indicated which style they want you to use, and provided some basic guidelines. See below for some additional online resources that will help you format your citations. 

Contact us!

Please feel free to get in touch with a librarian at any stage of your research process. Stop by the library (located on the third floor of the B side of the Fenway building), or get in touch directly with:

Ashley Peterson

  • apeterson@smfa.edu
  • 617-369-3653

Darin Murphy

  • dmurphy@smfa.edu
  • 617-369-3651

Circulation Desk (evening and weekend contact)

  • library@smfa.edu
  • 617-369-3650

Citation Guides

Modern Language Association (MLA) Style (generally appropriate for English and other Humanities subjects; verify your instructor's preference)

Chicago Manual of Style (generally appropriate for Art History and History; verify your instructor's preference)

Free online Chicago guides

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