Determine whether you will be using the APA, MLA or Chicago style guide to cite your sources, and obtain the appropriate style guide for writing source information. All are available online (see the Resources section in this article).
Select the format you want to use. You may have the option to write source citations "in line" with your text or at the end of a document, via footnotes. Whichever format you're using, be consistent.
Research your topic and record all information about each source you use. Depending on the media, this includes author, editor, title, publisher, volume, edition, page or paragraph number, date and url. Writing down more information than you may need is preferable.
Evaluate whether each source is credible when researching and reviewing your work. An untrustworthy or questionable source will devalue your work.
Annotate any quotes, specific ideas, media (e.g., a photo) or facts as you compose your document. If it isn't originally your work, or a fact that's common knowledge, write down where you found it.
Follow the style guide carefully to cite sources within the text. The style guides call for footnotes or in-line citations and have rules for both. Even in the draft stage, it will save you time later if you write source information consistently and in the proper format from the start.
Use the information you've collected to write a source list when finalizing your document--a bibliography or works cited section. As long as you've recorded all the information, it saves time to complete this section near the end of the process. That way you won't spend time formatting information for sources you didn't use.
Proofread and crosscheck all of your sources; ensure that all citations reflect the correct media in your source list. Pay careful attention to punctuation and capitalization.