When you are writing a research paper, your professor will ask you to prepare it according to an accepted style. The two most often used are from the Modern Language Association (MLA) for the Humanities, and the American Psychological Association (APA) for the Social Sciences and other disciplines. This guide gives you a collection of sites from around the web that will help you get started using them.
When in doubt, be sure to ask your professor or a librarian for help.