How to Cite a Model Essay in APA/MLA Format (Properly & Ethically)

You’ve studied a model essay to understand how to approach your assignment. Now you’re writing your own paper and wondering: Do I need to cite the model essay? And if so, how?

This seemingly simple question reveals confusion about when citation is required, what citation means ethically, and how to format citations for model essays—a type of source that doesn’t fit neatly into standard citation categories.

Here’s the short answer: If you’re discussing or referencing specific ideas from a reliable essay writing service in your own work, yes, you must cite it. If you learned from the model and then wrote completely original work, no citation is needed.

But understanding when citation is required versus optional, and how to format it properly in both APA and MLA styles, requires more nuance than that simple rule suggests.

This guide provides complete, detailed instructions for citing model essays in academic work. You’ll learn when citation is ethically required, how to format citations in APA and MLA styles, what information you need, and how to handle tricky situations where citation requirements aren’t obvious.

Understanding When Citation Is Required

Before formatting citations, you need to understand when you actually need to cite a model essay:

Scenario 1: You DON’T Need to Cite (Most Common)

When you use a model essay as a learning tool:

What you did:

1. Studied the model essay to understand structure and approach
2. Observed how arguments are constructed
3. Learned citation formatting and research techniques
4. Put the model away
5. Conducted your own research
6. Write your own original essay with your own thesis, arguments, and sources
   

Citation required? NO

Why not: You learned general principles and approaches, but your actual content is completely original. The model influenced your learning process but isn’t a source for your paper’s content.

Analogy: If you watch cooking videos to learn techniques, then make your own dish with your own ingredients and recipe, you don’t cite the cooking videos in your recipe. You learned from them, but your creation is yours.

Scenario 2: You DO Need to Cite

When you reference or discuss the model essay’s specific content:

What you’re doing: 

• Discussing the model essay’s specific arguments or claims
• Referencing its analysis or interpretations
• Quoting or paraphrasing its content
• Building on its specific ideas
• Responding to or critiquing its positions
  
  

Citation required? YES

Why: You’re using the model essay as a source of ideas or information, not just as a learning tool. Academic integrity requires citing sources you draw from.

Example: “Some argue that universal basic income would reduce work incentives (Smith, 2024), but this analysis overlooks evidence from pilot programs showing sustained employment rates...”

Here you’re referencing a specific argument from the model essay, so citation is required.

The Key Distinction

Learning from ? Using as a source

Learning from:

• General principles, approaches, structures
• Understanding what good writing looks like
• Seeing how to conduct research
• Observing citation formatting
  
  

Using as a source:

• Specific arguments or claims
• Particular examples or evidence
• Unique interpretations or analysis
• Content you’re discussing or building on
  
  

Only “using as a source” requires citation.

What Information You Need to Cite a Model Essay

Before formatting your citation, gather the necessary information:

Essential Information

1. Author/Writer Name

• If provided by the service
• May be pseudonymous or the service name if individual writer isn’t disclosed
• Format: Last name, First initial. OR Company name.
  
  

2. Year

• Year the model essay was created or delivered
• Format: (2024) or (2024, November 13)
  
  

3. Title of the Model Essay

• The specific title or topic of the model essay
• Format: Sentence case (only first word and proper nouns capitalized)
• In italics for APA, in quotes for MLA
  
  

4. Description/Format

• Describe it as [Model essay], [Unpublished manuscript], or similar
• This clarifies it’s not a published academic source
  
  

5. Source/Service Name

• Name of the company or service that provided it
• Format: CollegeEssay, CustomWriting, etc.
  
  

6. URL (if applicable)

• If the model was delivered via a URL or is accessible online
• Not always necessary but helpful when available
  

Optional/Additional Information

• Date accessed (sometimes needed for online sources)?
• Order number or identifier (typically not included in formal citations)
• Specific page numbers (if citing a particular section)

APA Format: How to Cite Model Essays

APA (American Psychological Association) style is common in social sciences, business,
nursing, and many other fields.

Basic APA Format for Model Essays

Reference list entry:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of model essay [Model essay]. Service Name. URL (if available)

Generic template:

Smith, J. (2024). The impact of social media on adolescent development [Model essay]. CollegeEssay.

Detailed APA Examples

Example 1: Model essay with author name

Johnson, M. (2024). Economic effects of universal basic income programs [Model essay]. CustomEssay Services.

Example 2: Model essay without individual author (company as author)

CollegeEssay. (2024). Climate change policy approaches in developing nations [Model essay]. https://www.collegeessay.com/samples/climate-policy

Example 3: Model essay with specific date

Williams, R. (2024, November 13). The role of artificial intelligence in healthcare diagnostics [Model essay]. AcademicModels.

Example 4: Model essay as unpublished manuscript (alternative format)

Thompson, K. (2024). Social media platforms and democratic discourse [Unpublished manuscript]. ProEssayWriting.

APA In-Text Citations

Parenthetical citation (author-date):

The analysis suggests that social media’s impact varies by platform type (Johnson, 2024).

Narrative citation (author in text):

Johnson (2024) argues that social media’s impact varies by platform type.

With page numbers (if quoting or referencing specific section):

Recent analysis challenges this assumption (Johnson, 2024, p. 5).

Multiple authors:

If the model essay has multiple authors, follow standard APA rules:

• Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2024)
• Three or more: (Smith et al., 2024)

APA Citation Notes

Italics for title: In APA, titles in the reference list are italicized

Sentence case: Only capitalize first word, proper nouns, and first word after colon

Bracket description: [Model essay] clarifies the document type

DOI/URL: Include if available and stable

MLA Format: How to Cite Model Essays

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is common in humanities, literature, and liberal arts.

Basic MLA Format for Model Essays

Works Cited entry:

Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Model Essay.” Service Name, Year. Description.

Generic template:

Smith, John. "The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Development." CollegeEssay, 2024. Model essay.

Detailed MLA Examples

Example 1: Model essay with author name

Johnson, Maria. "Economic Effects of Universal Basic Income Programs." CustomEssay Services, 2024. Model essay.

Example 2: Model essay without individual author (organization as author)

CollegeEssay. "Climate Change Policy Approaches in Developing Nations." CollegeEssay, 2024. Model essay.

Example 3: Model essay with URL

Williams, Robert. "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Diagnostics." AcademicModels, 13 Nov. 2024. Model essay. http://www.academicmodels.com/healthcare-ai.

Example 4: Model essay as unpublished work (alternative format)

Thompson, Karen. "Social Media Platforms and Democratic Discourse." 2024. Unpublished manuscript, ProEssayWriting.

MLA In-Text Citations

Parenthetical citation (author page):

The analysis suggests that social media’s impact varies by platform type (Johnson).

Note: MLA typically uses page numbers, but if the source doesn’t have pagination (common with online model essays), use author name only.

Parenthetical citation with page number (if available):

Recent analysis challenges this assumption (Johnson 5).

Author named in text:

Johnson argues that social media’s impact varies by platform type.

Organization as author:

Some analyses suggest platform-specific effects (CollegeEssay).

MLA Citation Notes

Quotation marks for title: In MLA, essay titles use quotation marks (not italics)

Title case: Capitalize all major words in the title

Date format: Day Month Year (13 Nov. 2024) when available

Description at end: “Model essay” or similar description comes last

URL format: No “https://” prefix, no angle brackets

Special Situations and How to Handle Them

Citation isn’t always straightforward. Here’s how to handle complex scenarios:

Situation 1: No Author Name Provided

If the service doesn’t provide individual writer names:

APA: Use the service/company name as the author 

CollegeEssay. (2024). Title of essay [Model essay].

MLA: Use the service/company name as author

CollegeEssay. "Title of Essay." CollegeEssay, 2024. Model essay.

Situation 2: Citing Multiple Model Essays from Same Service

If you’re citing several model essays:

Differentiate by title and year:

APA:

CollegeEssay. (2024a). First essay title [Model essay].
CollegeEssay. (2024b). Second essay title [Model essay].

MLA:

CollegeEssay. "First Essay Title." CollegeEssay, 2024. Model essay.
---. "Second Essay Title." CollegeEssay, 2024. Model essay.

Note: MLA uses three hyphens (—) to indicate repeated author.

Situation 3: No Publication Date

If you only know when you accessed it:

APA:

Author, A. (n.d.). Title of essay [Model essay]. Service Name. Retrieved November 13, 2024, from URL

MLA:

Author, First. "Title of Essay." Service Name, n.d. Model essay. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Situation 4: Citing a Specific Section

If you’re referencing a particular part:

APA in-text:

(Smith, 2024, p. 3) or (Smith, 2024, pp. 3-5)

MLA in-text:

(Smith 3) or (Smith 3-5)

Note: Model essays may not have page numbers. If they don’t, omit page references.

Situation 5: Personal Communication vs. Published Model

If you received the model through direct communication:

APA treats this as personal communication:

In-text only: (M. Johnson, personal communication, November 13, 2024)

No reference list entry for personal communications in APA.

MLA still uses standard format in Works Cited with description of how it was received.

Situation 6: Citing the Model in an Annotated Bibliography

For annotated bibliographies:

APA:

Smith, J. (2024). The impact of social media on adolescent development [Model essay]. CollegeEssay.

This model essay provides analysis of how various social media platforms affect teenage mental health and social development. The author examines research from 2019-2023 and synthesizes findings
about platform-specific impacts. Useful for understanding current scholarly perspectives on this topic.

MLA:

Smith, John. "The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Development." CollegeEssay, 2024. Model essay.

This model essay analyzes social media's effects on teenage mental health and development, examining research from recent years. Provides useful framework for understanding platform-specific impacts and current scholarly approaches to the topic.

Ethical Considerations When Citing Model Essays

Proper citation involves more than correct formatting—it requires ethical judgment:

When Citation Is Ethically Required

You MUST cite if you: 

• Quote any text from the model essay
• Paraphrase specific arguments or claims
• Reference the model’s unique examples or evidence
• Discuss the model’s analysis or interpretations
• Build on ideas that originated in the model
  
  

Example of required citation:

“As one analysis notes, the relationship between social media use and anxiety is mediated by platform-specific design features (Smith, 2024), suggesting interventions should target design rather than usage reduction.”

You’re referencing a specific argument, so citation is required.

When Citation Is Not Required

You DON’T need to cite if you:

• Learned general writing principles
• Observed structural approaches
• Studied citation formatting
• Understood quality standards
• Then created completely original work
  
  

Example of no citation needed:

“The relationship between social media use and anxiety appears mediated by multiple factors including platform design, individual vulnerability, and usage patterns.”

This is your own argument developed from your own research, even though studying a model helped you understand how to construct such arguments.

The Grey Area: Common Knowledge

Some information becomes common knowledge after you’ve researched:

If multiple sources (including the model) say the same thing, and it’s widely accepted in the field, you may not need to cite every instance.

Example: “Social media use has increased dramatically among teenagers” is common knowledge that doesn’t require citation.

But specific statistics, unique interpretations, or non-obvious claims require citation even if multiple sources mention them.

To understand the full ethical picture, see our detailed guide on the difference between model papers and plagiarism and when attribution is required.

Citing Model Essays vs. Citing Regular Sources

Model essays occupy a unique position between published sources and unpublished materials:

Differences from Published Academic Sources

Model essays typically:

• Aren’t peer-reviewed
• Don’t have DOIs or stable publishers
• May not be permanently accessible
• Are created for individual educational purposes
• Don’t go through formal publication processes
  
  

This affects citation: 

• Descriptions like [Model essay] clarify the source type
• URLs may not be permanent or necessary
• Access dates may be more relevant
• Some professors may have specific preferences about citing such sources
  
  

Similarities to Grey Literature

Model essays are similar to: 

• Unpublished manuscripts
• Working papers
• White papers
• Internal reports
  
  

Citation approaches for grey literature apply:

• Clear description of document type
• Author/organization information
• Year and access information
• Acknowledgment of unpublished status
  
  

Professor Preferences

Important: Some professors may have specific policies about:

• Whether model essays can be cited
• How they should be described
• What format to use
• Whether they’re acceptable sources for your specific assignment
  
  

Always check assignment guidelines and ask if unsure.

Practical Examples: Full Essays with Citations

Let’s see complete examples in context:

Example 1: APA-Formatted Essay Citing a Model

Excerpt:

The debate over universal basic income (UBI) often centers on concerns about work incentives. Some analyses argue that guaranteed income would reduce labor force participation (Thompson, 2024), while others contend that pilot programs show minimal employment effects. This discrepancy may reflect differences in program design and local economic contexts rather than inherent features of UBI itself.

Reference List:

Thompson, K. (2024). Economic and social implications of universal basic income programs [Model essay]. Academic Writing Services.

Example 2: MLA-Formatted Essay Citing a Model

Excerpt:

The debate over universal basic income often centers on concerns about work incentives. Some analyses argue that guaranteed income would reduce labor force participation (Thompson), while others contend that pilot programs show minimal employment effects. This discrepancy may reflect differences in program design and local economic contexts.

Works Cited:

Thompson, Karen. "Economic and Social Implications of Universal Basic Income Programs." Academic Writing Services, 2024. Model essay.

Tools and Resources

Make citation easier with these resources:

Citation Generators

Online tools: Our free APA/MLA citation generator can help format citations correctly for model essays and all other source types.

What generators do:

• Format citations in correct style
• Ensure proper punctuation and capitalization
• Save time on manual formatting
• Reduce formatting errors
  
  

What generators don’t do:

• Determine whether citation is needed (that’s your judgment)
• Ensure you’re citing accurately (verify information)
• Replace understanding citation principles
  
  

Style Guides

Official resources:

• APA Publication Manual (7th edition)
• MLA Handbook (9th edition)
• Purdue OWL (free online resource)
  
  

When to consult:

• Complex citation situations
• Verification of generator output
• Understanding the logic behind formats
• Learning best practices
  
  

Integration with Citation Management

Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote:

• Can store model essay citations
• Generate bibliographies automatically
• Manage all your sources in one place
  
  

How to add model essays:

• Use “manuscript” or “unpublished work” item type
• Fill in available fields
• Add notes about where you received it

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Citing When Not Needed

Wrong: Including the model essay in your bibliography when you only learned from it and wrote completely original work

Why it’s wrong: Creates impression you used it as a source when you didn’t

Right: Only cite if you actually referenced its specific content

Mistake 2: Not Citing When Required

Wrong: Referencing specific arguments from the model without attribution

Why it’s wrong: This is plagiarism—presenting someone else’s ideas as yours

Right: Cite when discussing or building on specific claims from the model

Mistake 3: Incorrect Format

Wrong: Smith, John. "Essay Title" CollegeEssay 2024

Why it’s wrong: Missing punctuation, capitalization errors, wrong format

Right: Follow exact formatting for APA or MLA as shown in examples above

Mistake 4: Missing Key Information

Wrong: Incomplete citation missing author or year

Right: Include all available information (author, year, title, description, source)

Mistake 5: Over-Reliance on Model Essay

Wrong: Citing the model essay as your only source or primary source

Why it’s wrong: Suggests you didn’t do independent research

Right: Use the model as one of many sources, or better yet, use it to learn then do
completely original research

Advanced Topics: Complex Citation Scenarios

Citing Ideas That Appear in Multiple Sources

Situation: The model essay discusses an idea that also appears in the sources it cites.

Best practice:

• Find and cite the original source directly
• Don’t cite the model essay if it’s just passing along someone else’s idea
• Only cite the model if you’re discussing its specific interpretation or analysis
  
  

Example:

Wrong: According to Smith (2024), Johnson’s 2022 research showed...

Right: According to Johnson (2022), research showed... [Cite Johnson directly]

OR:

Smith’s (2024) analysis of Johnson’s research suggests... [Cite Smith’s interpretation]

Secondary Citation

If you can’t access the original source and must cite through the model:

APA:

In-text: (Johnson, 2022, as cited in Smith, 2024)
Reference list: Smith, M. (2024). Title [Model essay]...

Only list the model essay (secondary source) in references, not the original source you didn’t read.

MLA:

In-text: (qtd. in Smith)
Works Cited: Smith, John. "Title." 2024. Model essay...

Better practice: Find and read the original source yourself rather than relying on secondary citation.

Using Model Citations as Examples

Situation: You want to learn from how the model cited sources, not from the model’s content.

Citation needed? NO—you’re learning formatting, not using content.

Just apply the formatting principles to your own sources.

Special Note: Professor Policies and Assignment

Requirements

Before citing model essays, check:

Assignment-Specific Restrictions

Some professors prohibit:

• Using any outside help resources as sources
• Citing model essays or example papers
• Including non-peer-reviewed sources
• Using particular types of materials
  
  

Always verify assignment guidelines before including model essay citations.

Course Policies

Some courses have explicit rules about:

• What types of sources are acceptable
• Whether tutoring materials can be cited
• How to handle learning resources
• Citation requirements for different source types
  
  

When in Doubt, Ask

If unclear whether you should cite a model essay:

• Ask your professor before submitting
• Explain how you used the model
• Get clarification on citation requirements
• Better to ask than guess wrong

Relationship Between Citation and Ethical Use

Proper citation is part of—but not all of—ethical use:

Citation Is Necessary But Not Sufficient

You can cite a model essay properly and still plagiarize if:

• You closely paraphrase without genuine restatement
• You rely too heavily on the model’s structure and arguments
• You don’t do independent research and thinking
• Your work is derivative despite attribution
  
  

Citation acknowledges sources; originality requires genuine independent work.

Proper Use with Proper Citation

Ethical use involves:

1. Using models primarily as learning tools
2. Creating genuinely original work
3. Conducting your own research
4. Citing appropriately when you do reference specific model content
5. Being able to explain and defend all your work

For comprehensive guidance on this relationship, see our article on how to paraphrase and cite example essays properly while maintaining originality.

Conclusion: Citation as Academic Integrity

Knowing how to cite model essays properly is about more than formatting—it’s about academic integrity and honest representation of your work.

Key principles: 

• Cite when using specific content as a source
• Don’t cite when you only learned general principles
• Format citations correctly for your required style
• Include all necessary information
• Follow professor-specific guidelines
• Prioritize original work over reliance on models
  
  

Remember: The best scenario is usually creating work so original that citation isn’t needed—the model influenced your learning, but your work is entirely yours.

When you do need to cite model essays, use the formats and guidelines from a trusted writing service to do so correctly and ethically.

Academic integrity isn’t about technicalities—it’s about honest representation of your intellectual work. Citation is one tool for maintaining that honesty.

Need help formatting citations for your sources? Use our free APA/MLA citation generator to ensure accuracy and save time on proper formatting.