Part 1: What Needs to Be Cited?
So how do you distinguish what needs to be cited from what doesn’t? Here are some guidelines:
* Common knowledge doesn’t need to be cited.
* Facts that may be open to dispute need to be cited.
* Facts that may not be subject to dispute but that are little known and come from a speciic source
need to be cited.
* Opinions and interpretations of facts that you borrow from other writers need to be cited,
preferably to their root source. When you refer to any well-known idea that can be traced to
a speciic originator, try to cite the original source, not some later interpreter. (If an opinion or
interpretation is extremely obvious or very well known, it may qualify as common knowledge.)
Take into consideration the level of experience of your reader. This will help you determine whether a
certain piece of information can be considered common knowledge. Ask yourself: Would someone read-
ing my paper who is generally knowledgeable about the topic but not an expert ind it helpful or useful
to have a source cited for that piece of information? If the answer is yes, then go ahead and cite a source.
If the answer is no, then don’t bother: they would probably consider this piece of information common
knowledge. When in doubt, cite a source.
Part 2: How to Incorporate Your Research into Your Writing
Here are the three ways you can blend your research source materials into your own prose:
* Paraphrasing (stating the information in your own words, using your own style, and itting it
naturally into the low of your paper). Choose this form of citation whenever the idea you are
citing is more important than the precise way it is stated in your source. Always provide a citationFor more information, call 1-800-238-1512 or visit us online at videoaidedinstruction.com.
when you paraphrase.
* Direct quoting of one or more sentences (quoting one or more of another writer’s sentences
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verbatim). Choose this method when a particular author has stated something in a way that is
unusually apt, interesting, forceful, or thought-provoking — the kind of sentence or paragraph
that makes you say, “Wow! I can’t imagine how that idea could be stated any better.” Introduce
the quotation with a phrase or sentence that provides the background for the quote (who said it,
when, where, how, and/or why); use block quotations for longer quotes. Always provide a cita-
tion when you quote directly.
* Interweaving of quoted words or phrases into your own writing (quoting another writer’s words
or phrases verbatim, embedded in your own sentences). Choose this technique when there are
speciic bits of language that are worth borrowing from another writer but when it’s not neces-
sary to quote an entire sentence or more. Naturally, as with any citation of a source, you need
to include an introductory phrase or sentence that provides the background for the quote (who
said it, when, where, how, and/or why). Always provide a citation when you interweave quoted
words or phrases.
Remember: When quoting, be careful to record every detail precisely (including any errors in grammar,
spelling, etc.) and use square brackets, ellipses, and sic as needed. For speciic guidelines about formatting
parenthetical references, footnotes, and bibliographies, be sure to watch the next program in the series:
Writing a Great Research Paper: Formatting Your Paper.