When you write a research paper, it is important to acknowledge the sources (books, articles, websites, etc.) that you referenced, quoted, or paraphrased. A citation is a brief description of a source. The information included in a citation depends upon the type of source and the citation style that you are using. The elements of a citation generally include the author, title, and publication information. Your professor will tell you which citation style is required for their class.
MCC subscribes to a website called Noodlebib, which will help you to create correct citations. Check out the citing sources page and the MLA and APA style citation handouts for further assistance.