Why Citations?
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Writers use citations to give credit to their sources. Citations are important for two reasons:
SOURCES MATTER! When Reading: If a claim seems questionable, or if you need more information, use the writer’s citations to find their original sources. When Writing: Cite your source whenever you quote or paraphrase information from someone else. |
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Recommended Citation Tools
1. NoodleTools
NoodleTools is the best choice for serious research projects. It will alert you when a citation is wrong, and explain how to fix it. It can export your works cited page, and import citations from books and databases. It also has tools for note-taking, organization, and collaboration. Check out this YouTube playlist for help getting started.
Log in with your Google account.
2. Google Docs Citation Tool
The citation tool built into Google Docs is the best choice for smaller assignments. It can generate website citations and format a works cited page in seconds, although it can make mistakes and must be checked for accuracy.
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Open a Google Doc and navigate to "Tools > Citations" on the top menu.
Click the picture above for help getting started.
Click the picture above for help getting started.
3. Purdue OWL
Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab has detailed models and citation guides. Unlike other tools, it won’t do any of the work for you, but it’s a fast and helpful reference when you’re ready to start constructing your own citations.
4. Gemini
Gemini is getting better at making citations, but it's not 100% accurate yet. Remember that you are responsible for double checking, and verifying that everything is correct.
Citation Tool Comparison
Citing AI
Last Updated August 25, 2026
Informal Citations:
Check with your teacher about their requirements. They may request:
Cite AI Yourself:
Follow the models below. Update the red parts. Keep the black parts the same.
MLA:
“Prompt text” prompt. Gemini, model 2.5 Pro, Google, Day Month. Year, Link.
APA:
Google. (Year, Month Day). Prompt text [Generative AI chat]. Gemini 2.5 Pro. Link.
Note: Leave out the links for now. Gemini links are not sharable for education users. If your teacher requires a link, copy and paste the chat into a Google doc. Put the link to the Google doc at the end of the citation.
Cite AI with AI:
You can ask Gemini to cite itself, but it won’t do it correctly all the time. You must compare its answer to the samples above, and make sure they match.
Cite AI with NoodleTools:
Select New Source → Website → AI Response / Output.
NoodleTools will guide you through the rest of the process.
Cite AI with Google Docs:
The Google Docs citation tool cannot cite AI sources yet.
Check with your teacher about their requirements. They may request:
- Putting anything generated by AI in quotation marks.
- Highlighting anything generated by AI.
- Using an intro phrase, like “according to Gemini.”
- Using parenthesis after AI-generated content (Gemini).
- A short statement describing how you used AI. (Ex. “I asked Gemini to list five thematic quotes from Romeo and Juliet.”)
Cite AI Yourself:
Follow the models below. Update the red parts. Keep the black parts the same.
MLA:
“Prompt text” prompt. Gemini, model 2.5 Pro, Google, Day Month. Year, Link.
APA:
Google. (Year, Month Day). Prompt text [Generative AI chat]. Gemini 2.5 Pro. Link.
Note: Leave out the links for now. Gemini links are not sharable for education users. If your teacher requires a link, copy and paste the chat into a Google doc. Put the link to the Google doc at the end of the citation.
Cite AI with AI:
You can ask Gemini to cite itself, but it won’t do it correctly all the time. You must compare its answer to the samples above, and make sure they match.
Cite AI with NoodleTools:
Select New Source → Website → AI Response / Output.
NoodleTools will guide you through the rest of the process.
Cite AI with Google Docs:
The Google Docs citation tool cannot cite AI sources yet.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of stealing and using the ideas, data, and writing of another as if they were one’s own. A person has plagiarized when they:
Source: Cazenovia High School Student Handbook, page 55.
- Copy phrases, sentences, or paragraphs out of books, magazines, or other source and presents it as his/her own.
- Present someone else’s argument, opinion, idea, or style as his/her own.
- Copy someone else’s paper and presents it as his/her own.
- Borrow facts, statistics, data, or other illustrative unless information is common knowledge. Submit as their own any academic exercise (e.g. written work, documentation, lab reports, and homework, photographs, or artwork) prepared totally or in part by another.
- Use of artificial intelligence, such as AI, Chat GPT, etc.
Source: Cazenovia High School Student Handbook, page 55.