Unlocking the Secrets of Citing Research

Why do we have to do research anyway?

Many kinds of writing Many kinds of writing involve explaining a point involve explaining a point or supporting an ideaor supporting an idea

Showing that you’ve looked Showing that you’ve looked into what others have to sayinto what others have to say—or what the facts are——or what the facts are—helps give your writing helps give your writing credibilitycredibility

So then what’s a “source”?

A source is anything—a A source is anything—a document, book, website, document, book, website, or person—that supplies or person—that supplies informationinformation

Sources can be reliable or Sources can be reliable or unreliable, depending on unreliable, depending on the situationthe situation

If you are personally If you are personally knowledgeable about the knowledgeable about the topic, you can also be a topic, you can also be a reliable sourcereliable source

Okay, fine, but why do I have to document and cite sources?

It shows that your It shows that your information is legitimateinformation is legitimate

It gives your reader the It gives your reader the necessary information to necessary information to find these sourcesfind these sources

It shows we can trust youIt shows we can trust you

Documentation and citation looks hard. And I don’t know anything

about this stuff. I feel lost.

Where do I start?

RelaxRelax Keep things in Keep things in

perspectiveperspective

There are two common ways to cite sources in writing:

In-Text CitationsIn-Text Citations

End-of-Text CitationsEnd-of-Text Citations

In-Text Citations

These are citations that are in the writing itself. These are citations that are in the writing itself.

For example:For example:

Studies show that college students who use writing Studies show that college students who use writing center services earn higher grades than those who center services earn higher grades than those who don’t (Crovitz 56).don’t (Crovitz 56).

These are sometimes called “parenthetical” citations.These are sometimes called “parenthetical” citations.

In-Text Citations In-text citations let the reader know that the In-text citations let the reader know that the

information comes from a certain source.information comes from a certain source.

Crovitz explains that statistically, students who Crovitz explains that statistically, students who use this resource earn higher grades (56).use this resource earn higher grades (56).

What goes inside the parentheses depends on the What goes inside the parentheses depends on the documentation style you’re using.documentation style you’re using.

End-of-Text Citations

These citations are a list of your sources on These citations are a list of your sources on a separate page at the end of your essay.a separate page at the end of your essay.

This list provides more information about This list provides more information about each source.each source.

All the sources you cite in your essay All the sources you cite in your essay should appear in this list.should appear in this list.

Secret Tip #1

Think of your in-text Think of your in-text citations as “links” to your citations as “links” to your end-of-text citation list.end-of-text citation list.

Documentation Styles…

The style you use to cite your sources The style you use to cite your sources depends on the academic field you are depends on the academic field you are writing within.writing within.

The two most common academic styles are The two most common academic styles are MLA and APA, but there are a number of MLA and APA, but there are a number of others. others.

MLA

Used in English composition, Used in English composition, literature, and related fieldsliterature, and related fields

For in-text citations, MLA For in-text citations, MLA stresses the author’s name and stresses the author’s name and page number:page number:

Researchers agree that cliff-diving is Researchers agree that cliff-diving is hazardous, especially when there is no hazardous, especially when there is no water below (Wilson 22). water below (Wilson 22).

APA

Used in education, social Used in education, social sciences, and similar fieldssciences, and similar fields

For in-text citations, APA For in-text citations, APA stresses the author’s name and stresses the author’s name and the year:the year:

Researchers (Wilson, 2002) agree that cliff-Researchers (Wilson, 2002) agree that cliff-diving is hazardous, especially when there is diving is hazardous, especially when there is no water below. no water below.

Similarities

For end-of-text citations, MLA and APA For end-of-text citations, MLA and APA both use the same information but in both use the same information but in different formats:different formats:

MLA end-of-textMLA end-of-text citation for a book:citation for a book:Wilson, Percy. Wilson, Percy. Desert Cliff-Diving and Other Extreme Desert Cliff-Diving and Other Extreme

SportsSports. Tucson: Putnam, 2002.. Tucson: Putnam, 2002.

APA end-of-textAPA end-of-text citation for the same book:citation for the same book:Wilson, P. (2002). Wilson, P. (2002). Desert cliff-diving and other extreme Desert cliff-diving and other extreme

sportssports. Tucson: Putnam.. Tucson: Putnam.

What if my sources include a book, a website, an article, and interview…?

Secret Tip #2:Secret Tip #2:

You don’t need to memorize You don’t need to memorize all the citation formats…you all the citation formats…you just need to know where to just need to know where to

look for help.look for help.

Where to Look for Help

Writing centerWriting center For great handouts, as well as the official For great handouts, as well as the official

MLA and APA guides…plus, tutors to MLA and APA guides…plus, tutors to help you!help you!

Online:Online:Noodletools.comNoodletools.comEasybib.comEasybib.com

Do I wait until I’ve written the whole essay before citing sources, or what? Concentrate first on what Concentrate first on what youyou want to say want to say

Your research is Your research is supportsupport for your own voice and ideas. for your own voice and ideas. If you took out all the research, your writing should still If you took out all the research, your writing should still

make sensemake sense

Keep track of the research you’ve collected and Keep track of the research you’ve collected and used, or plan to useused, or plan to use

Getting Sources into the Writing

There are two ways to include material There are two ways to include material from sources in your writing: from sources in your writing:

QuotingQuoting

Paraphrasing Paraphrasing

Quotation

taking the exact words from a source taking the exact words from a source

when it is important to show the when it is important to show the original wording original wording

it’s unique or powerfulit’s unique or powerfulyou can’t say it betteryou can’t say it better

Secret Tip #3

Most people quote too much…Most people quote too much…

……often, they should be paraphrasing instead.often, they should be paraphrasing instead.

Paraphrasing…

Expressing information or ideas from a source in Expressing information or ideas from a source in your own words. your own words. to talk about general ideas or concepts to talk about general ideas or concepts to establish and maintain your own voice in discussing to establish and maintain your own voice in discussing

outside sources, information, and evidence outside sources, information, and evidence to create a sense that you have thought about and to create a sense that you have thought about and

evaluated what is important in a sourceevaluated what is important in a source

Ex. In his article, Levy discusses several aspects of basketball Ex. In his article, Levy discusses several aspects of basketball tactics, including zone defense and the full court press (22).tactics, including zone defense and the full court press (22).

Activity!!!Activity!!!

Integrating Your Quotations

Beer drinking has been a popular Beer drinking has been a popular social activity for thousands of social activity for thousands of years. “Since the Egyptians first years. “Since the Egyptians first fermented grain along the banks of fermented grain along the banks of the Nile, beer has been a part of the Nile, beer has been a part of almost every society.”almost every society.”

Draft Two

Beer drinking has been a popular Beer drinking has been a popular social activity for thousands of social activity for thousands of years. “Since the Egyptians first years. “Since the Egyptians first fermented grain along the banks of fermented grain along the banks of the Nile, beer has been a part of the Nile, beer has been a part of almost every society” almost every society” (Williams 65).(Williams 65).

Draft Three

Beer drinking has been a popular Beer drinking has been a popular social activity for thousands of social activity for thousands of years. years. According to Paul Williams,According to Paul Williams, “since the Egyptians first fermented “since the Egyptians first fermented grain along the banks of the Nile, grain along the banks of the Nile, beer has been a part of almost every beer has been a part of almost every society” society” (65).(65).

Draft Four

Beer drinking has been a popular Beer drinking has been a popular social activity for thousands of social activity for thousands of years. years. Anthropologist Paul Williams Anthropologist Paul Williams writes thatwrites that “since the Egyptians “since the Egyptians first fermented grain along the banks first fermented grain along the banks of the Nile, beer has been a part of of the Nile, beer has been a part of almost every society” (65).almost every society” (65).

Draft Five

Beer drinking has been a popular Beer drinking has been a popular social activity for thousands of social activity for thousands of years. years. In his book In his book The Birth of BeerThe Birth of Beer, , anthropologist Paul Williams writesanthropologist Paul Williams writes that “since the Egyptians first that “since the Egyptians first fermented grain along the banks of fermented grain along the banks of the Nile, beer has been a part of the Nile, beer has been a part of almost every society” (65).almost every society” (65).

Ways to Make Quotations Flow

Leading InLeading In

Professor Roy Perez asserts that Hemingway's reputation “is in Professor Roy Perez asserts that Hemingway's reputation “is in large part dependent upon the real-world exploits of the author” large part dependent upon the real-world exploits of the author” (23).(23).

Leading OutLeading Out “ “They can run, but they can't hide,” warned President Bush.They can run, but they can't hide,” warned President Bush.

BreakingBreaking ““Education without attention to the arts,” explains theorist Elliot Education without attention to the arts,” explains theorist Elliot

Eisner, “would be an impoverished enterprise” (1).Eisner, “would be an impoverished enterprise” (1).

Secret Tip #4

Try to avoid the “floating quotation.”Try to avoid the “floating quotation.”

Another Activity!!!Another Activity!!!

Paraphrasing

Make sure your own words are significantly Make sure your own words are significantly different from the originaldifferent from the original

Cite paraphrased materialCite paraphrased material

An Example…

Source: “Why Braveheart is Bad” by Darren CrovitzSource: “Why Braveheart is Bad” by Darren Crovitz

Original sentences from the article:Original sentences from the article:

Mel Gibson’s 1995 film Mel Gibson’s 1995 film BraveheartBraveheart tries to convince us that tries to convince us that William Wallace, the 14William Wallace, the 14thth-century Scottish rebel, was actually a -century Scottish rebel, was actually a handsome, multi-lingual scholar who not only makes love to the handsome, multi-lingual scholar who not only makes love to the Princess of Wales, but is the father of her future child. This Princess of Wales, but is the father of her future child. This romantic nonsense is not based on historical fact, and dooms romantic nonsense is not based on historical fact, and dooms what might have been an interesting and worthwhile film.what might have been an interesting and worthwhile film.

Original sentences from the article:Original sentences from the article:

Mel Gibson’s 1995 film Mel Gibson’s 1995 film BraveheartBraveheart tries to convince us that tries to convince us that William Wallace, the 14William Wallace, the 14thth-century Scottish rebel, was actually a -century Scottish rebel, was actually a handsome, multi-lingual scholar who not only makes love to the handsome, multi-lingual scholar who not only makes love to the Princess of Wales, but is the father of her future child. This Princess of Wales, but is the father of her future child. This romantic nonsense is not based on historical fact, and dooms romantic nonsense is not based on historical fact, and dooms what might have been an interesting and worthwhile film.what might have been an interesting and worthwhile film.

Poor Paraphrase #1Poor Paraphrase #1

Darren Crovitz, a film reviewer, writes that the problems of Darren Crovitz, a film reviewer, writes that the problems of William Wallace's character in William Wallace's character in BraveheartBraveheart dooms what could dooms what could have been an interesting and worthwhile film (23).have been an interesting and worthwhile film (23).

Original sentences from the article:Original sentences from the article:

Mel Gibson’s 1995 film Mel Gibson’s 1995 film BraveheartBraveheart tries to convince us that tries to convince us that William Wallace, the 14William Wallace, the 14thth-century Scottish rebel, was actually a -century Scottish rebel, was actually a handsome, multi-lingual scholar who not only makes love to the handsome, multi-lingual scholar who not only makes love to the Princess of Wales, but is the father of her future child. This Princess of Wales, but is the father of her future child. This romantic nonsense is not based on historical fact, and romantic nonsense is not based on historical fact, and dooms dooms what might have been an interesting and worthwhile film.what might have been an interesting and worthwhile film.

Poor Paraphrase #1Poor Paraphrase #1

Darren Crovitz, a film reviewer, writes that the problems of Darren Crovitz, a film reviewer, writes that the problems of William Wallace's character in William Wallace's character in BraveheartBraveheart dooms what could dooms what could have been an interesting and worthwhile film (23).have been an interesting and worthwhile film (23).

Original sentences from the article:Original sentences from the article:

Mel Gibson’s 1995 film Mel Gibson’s 1995 film BraveheartBraveheart tries to convince us that tries to convince us that William Wallace, the 14William Wallace, the 14thth-century Scottish rebel, was actually a -century Scottish rebel, was actually a handsome, multi-lingual scholar who not only makes love to the handsome, multi-lingual scholar who not only makes love to the Princess of Wales, but is the father of her future child. This Princess of Wales, but is the father of her future child. This romantic nonsense is not based on historical fact, and dooms romantic nonsense is not based on historical fact, and dooms what might have been an interesting and worthwhile film.what might have been an interesting and worthwhile film.

Poor Paraphrase #2Poor Paraphrase #2

BraveheartBraveheart, by Mel Gibson, attempts to persuade the viewers , by Mel Gibson, attempts to persuade the viewers that William Wallace, a medieval fighter from Scotland, was that William Wallace, a medieval fighter from Scotland, was really an attractive student of languages who has sex with the really an attractive student of languages who has sex with the Princess of Wales, and fathers her soon-to-be-born child. This Princess of Wales, and fathers her soon-to-be-born child. This idealistic silliness is not founded in real history, and destroys idealistic silliness is not founded in real history, and destroys what might have been an intriguing and rewarding movie (23).what might have been an intriguing and rewarding movie (23).

Original sentences from the article:Original sentences from the article:

Mel Gibson’s 1995 film Mel Gibson’s 1995 film BraveheartBraveheart tries to convince us that tries to convince us that William Wallace, the 14William Wallace, the 14thth-century Scottish rebel, was actually a -century Scottish rebel, was actually a handsome, multi-lingual scholar who not only makes love to the handsome, multi-lingual scholar who not only makes love to the Princess of Wales, but is the father of her future child. This Princess of Wales, but is the father of her future child. This romantic nonsense is not based on historical fact, and dooms romantic nonsense is not based on historical fact, and dooms what might have been an interesting and worthwhile film.what might have been an interesting and worthwhile film.

Decent ParaphraseDecent Paraphrase

In his article “Why In his article “Why BraveheartBraveheart is Bad,” Darren Crovitz notes is Bad,” Darren Crovitz notes that unrealistic ideas in the movie, including William Wallace's that unrealistic ideas in the movie, including William Wallace's knowledge of language and his relationship with the Princess, knowledge of language and his relationship with the Princess, harm the overall quality of the film (23).harm the overall quality of the film (23).

Citation, Documentation, Quotation, Paraphrasing…

Burning Questions???Burning Questions???

Remember…

No one’s an expert at this stuff…No one’s an expert at this stuff…

……you just need to know where to you just need to know where to look for help, or who to call.look for help, or who to call.