Basic Elements:
* Author's Last Name: The surname of the author(s) or the name of the organization if no author is listed.
* Year of Publication: The year the source was published.
* Page Number (for direct quotations): The specific page where the information you are citing can be found. This is only needed for direct quotations, not paraphrases or summaries.
Additional Elements (depending on the citation style):
* Author's First Initial: May be included for clarity, especially if there are multiple authors with the same last name.
* Title of the Source: The title of the book, article, or other source being cited. This is usually shortened or abbreviated in some citation styles.
* Volume and Issue Number: For journal articles, these are usually included.
* DOI (Digital Object Identifier): A unique identifier for digital sources.
* Retrieval Date: The date you accessed the source, especially for online sources that might be updated frequently.
Examples:
* MLA: (Smith 2023, 15).
* APA: (Smith, 2023, p. 15).
* Chicago: Smith, *The History of the World*, 15.
Important Note: The exact elements and formatting required for a text citation depend on the specific citation style you are using (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago). Make sure to consult the guidelines for the style you are using.