PSCI 384 - American Presidency

Zotero [pronounced zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share research sources.  

[*video features Firefox, but Zotero also works well with Safari and Chrome; not as well with MS Edge]

To get started:

• Create your free account at Zotero.org (Latest version, 7, released late 2024)
• Download Zotero.  Follow the install instructions in this guide to download Zotero from http://zotero.org/download. There are plugins and apps for mobile devices.
• Zotero 6 is available as an iOS app for both iPads and iPhones, which can be downloaded and installed from the Apple App Store. There is currently no Android app for Zotero. NOTE: Before using Zotero on a mobile device, you should download Zotero on your laptop or desktop and create an online account.

Each Zotero account comes with 300 megabytes of file storage for storing citation information, PDFs, notes, etc.  If you find it necessary, you can purchase additional storage from Zotero.

To install Zotero you will install Zotero Standalone and a browser connector (Safari, Chrome, Firefox).  Zotero does not work with Internet Explorer.

Each Zotero account comes with 300 megabytes of file storage for storing citation information, PDFs, notes, etc.  If necessary, you can purchase additional storage from Zotero.

• All Zotero Documentation
• Install Zotero
  • How to Install Zotero
  • Zotero preferences (settings)
• Put data into Zotero
  • Collect citations
  • Add PDF files that are on your computer to Zotero
  • Use "Library Lookup" to find full text
  • Make an ILLiad request from within Zotero
  • Sync with your Zotero.org account
• Using your Zotero data
  • Write and Cite
    • Write and Cite works best with Microsoft Word.  Current students, faculty, and staff can install Office 365 through a no cost subscription, which includes Word.  Instructions for installing Office 365.
    • Zotero Write and Cite Works with Google Docs but there are some limitations. Use when working on a group project or if you don't have MS Word.  Find out more.
  • Create Bibliographies
  • Organize your citations: collections, tags, and notes
  • Rename and manage PDF files using Zotfile (Zotfile is no longer required with Zotero 7)
  • Using Zotero on a mobile device
• Use Zotero with groups
• Back up your Zotero Library
• Use Zotero on a library commons or lab computer
• More help guides  

The following links from the Purdue University Online Writing Center will provide you with further information about the various style guides.

• APA Style (7th Edition)
• MLA Style
• Chicago Style