How to Document Sources in the Text of Your Paper
Most teachers and professors require parenthetical references to document your sources. There are 3 ways to use them:
1. Cite the author's last name and the page number(s) of the source in parentheses. Note that there is no comma, "page", or "p." in the parentheses. Also, notice the period goes after the parentheses.
One historian argues that since the invention
of television "our politics, religion, news, athletics,
education and commerce have been transformed into
congenial adjuncts of show business, largely
without protest or even much popular notice" (Postman 4).
2. Use the author's last name in your sentence and place only the page number(s) of the source in parentheses.
Postman points out that since the invention
of television "our politics, religion, news, athletics,
education and commerce have been transformed into
congenial adjuncts of show business, largely without
protest or even much popular notice" (4).
3. Give the author's last name in your sentence when you are citing the entire work rather than a specific section or passage, and omit any parenthetical reference.
Postman argues that television has changed virtually
every aspect of our culture into a form of show business.
For more information, see
"Avoiding Plagiarism: Safe Practices (OWL at Purdue)
"
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Need to Document |
No Need to Document |
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When you are using or referring to somebody else's words or ideas from a magazine, book, newspaper, song, TV program, movie, webpage, computer program, letter, advertisement, or any other medium. When you use information gained through interviewing another person. When you copy the exact words or a "unique phrase" from somewhere. When you reprint any diagrams, illustrations, charts, or pictures. When you use ideas others have given you in conversations or e-mail.
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When you are writing your own experiences, your own observations, your own insights, your own thoughts, your own conclusions about a subject. When you are using "common knowledge" -- folklore, common sense observations, shared information within your field of study or cultural group. When you are compiling generally accepted facts. When you are writing up your own experimental results. |
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