The BA Paper: A Library Guide for Students in the College

How RefWorks Can Help You With Your BA

What is RefWorks?

RefWorks is a program that helps you organize your research and create footnotes and bibliographies automatically in a variety of citation styles. You can export citations directly from many of the Library's electronic resources (including the Library Catalog, JSTOR, and various subject indexes) into your own RefWorks database so that you can easily locate and cite sources.

RefWorks is freely available to students, faculty, and staff via the University of Chicago Library's web site.

How RefWorks Can Help You Complete Your BA or Honors Thesis

RefWorks can be essential in researching and writing your BA or honors thesis. Below are just a few ways it can be helpful:

1. RefWorks helps you keep accurate records.
   As you can export citations directly from a library resource, rather than writing down the information yourself, RefWorks gathers the information for you. As a result, it is less likely that your citations are innacurate in your footnotes or bibliographies.
2. RefWorks keeps you organized.
   RefWorks uses the Library's Find It! service, which links citations to the full-text of an article (if available) or the Library Catalog record for a book or journal. There is no need to print out copies of articles or jot down call numbers on a piece of paper. In addition, RefWorks includes several "user" fields in each record which can be used for taking notes or locating citations quickly within your database.
3. RefWorks can be accessed and used anywhere.
   Since it is web-based, you can access your database and import citations from anywhere with an internet connection--the Library, the dorm, or even off-site at another library.
4. RefWorks integrates proper citation into the writing process.
   RefWorks' Write-N-Cite feature allows you to quickly and accuarately cite a source while you are writing a paper using MS Word. When you are ready to quote or paraphrase a source, you can easily input a citation or footnote in just a few clicks. Since it is so easy to create citations, there is less likihood of you waiting to the last moment to create footnotes and bibliographies (and less chances for you to make mistakes!)
5. RefWorks creates bibliographies and footnotes automatically in a variety of citation styles.
   While RefWorks cannot completely replace your style manual, it makes citing most common sources (like books and journals) much easier.

However, it is important to start using RefWorks early in your research process. While RefWorks can save you time and effort, it cannot be used effeciently to create footnotes and bibliographies once your research is done and the paper is written.

How do I Learn How to Use RefWorks?

There are several ways you can learn how to use RefWorks:

• Help Guides and Tutorials
  There are a variety of FAQs, help guides and tutorials available on the RefWorks log-on screen, which is located under "Electronic Resources" on our web site.
• Request a Research Consultation
  Make an appointment with a librarian who specializes in RefWorks training.
  
• Attend a RefWorks Workshop
  The Library holds RefWorks workshops at Crerar and Regenstein Library throughout the year.

You can also ask your faculty or preceptor to include a Library training session on RefWorks as part of your BA seminar course.