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In-Text Citations: How to quote other people in your papers

Citations

In-text citations are always necessary when quoting another person’s work. The in text citation works with a works cited page to show the reader where the information came from.

In-text citations should help the reader answer some important questions: who said the information, when/where did they say it, what did they say, and why is it important.

Minimum Requirements: You must give the author’s name or name of the article if no author and then the page number in parenthesis at the end of your sentence.

Why should I cite my sources?

  To avoid plagiarism

  To add to your ethical appeal as a knowledgeable individual who has researched and studied the topic

  To substantiate your arguments with scholarly facts and add to your logical appeal to reason

  To locate your paper within an ongoing academic conversation

  To holds the writer accountable for the accuracy of a source since the reader can check the original source

When Do I Need to Cite?

  When quoting material verbatim (word for word)

  When rewording or paraphrasing information

  When including statistics or findings from a study

  When including facts and opinions that are not common knowledge. (E.X. George Washington was the first U.S. President is considered common knowledge)

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Format of Parenthetical Info

 “Quotations” (last Name + page number) then punctuation.

 The parenthetical information should contain the first word in your Works Cited, usually the author’s last name and the page number where the quotation can be found. If the source is published by an organization and not a single author, cite the title source.

Example   Karen Kaplan implies in an article on genetically

modified organisms (GMOs) that people may need to reconsider their opposition to the altered food sources; as part of her evidence, she cites former activist Mark Lyns’ reasons for his original opposition to GMOs: “His views about genetically engineered foods were shaped by a combination of several nonscientific forces, including a mistrust of big corporations, fear of unchecked technology and gut-level queasiness” (1).

Kaplan, Karen. "Activist Formerly Opposed to GMOs Explains His Change of Heart.” www.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times, 08 Jan. 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.

What Is a Works Cite Page?

 Alphabetical list of sources you have used in your essay on a separate page at the end of your essay.

 Generally, you include the name of the author, title of the book or article, where the information came from (publisher) and year published, and then medium (Print, Web, Film)

Lebron’s 3-Steps to In-Text Citations:

1. Introduce your quotation with a short phrase or clause that tells your reader where your information is coming from and that a quotation will follow.

2. Include the quotation, summary, or paraphrase.

3. Finish the play: Signal that the quotation has ended and explain the quotation in your own words and offer some analysis of why the quotation is important.

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Introducing Sources

Lebron James stresses the importance of introducing your sources: “Like introducing people you know at a party, introducing your source is common courtesy; it lets the reader know that you are going to use someone else’s words or ideas, and it helps compensate for any potential shifts in tone” (1).

Note: only use an author’s full name once. Also if you introduce the name of your author in your text, you only need to include the page number in parenthesis.

Introductory words/ phrases   According to James, “Alternating several introductory phrases

and words is the pick-n-roll— or the bread and butter—of in-text citations.” See his examples:

  As stated by Lebron James

  James explains

  James implies

  James contends

  James illustrates

  James comments that

  James argues

Step 2: Quote, Summarize, or Paraphrase

  According to Lebron James, use a direct quotations “sparingly.” Use a direct quotation only when it expresses exactly what you want to say succinctly and powerfully (1).

  Even when summarizing or paraphrasing, you must still introduce your source and add parenthetical information.

  Why does James prefer to paraphrase or summarize rather than quote directly?

When leaving Words Out [. . .]

  When omitting words use brackets with an ellipses: three periods and three spaces [. . . ].

  Example: “Quotation [. . . ]” (James 1).

  Similarly, if you add words or phrases, also include your words in brackets to signal that you have altered the text. For instance, you may add brackets to add a person’s name to a vague pronoun or to alter the sentence to flow grammatically with your sentence.

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Citing the Original Source Generally, always cite the original text rather than the secondary source citing another source. If you do site the secondary source, be careful to be as accurate as possible not to obscure the author’s intention: is the author agreeing with or refuting the original source, or is the author simply giving background of the previous conversations of the discourse? Don’t play telephone.

Multiple Quotations

  When citing work that quotes someone else, use double quotation marks for your quotation and a single quotation mark for the quoted material inside of the quotation.

  Example: “Quotation ‘quote in the quote’” (1).

  Also, you may use the following format for the parenthetical citation: (qtd. in James 1).

Quoting Longer Passages

  When quoting longer passages of more than 4 lines, do not use quotation marks; instead indent the passage 1 inch on a new line.

  Generally, use a colon to introduce the passage.

  Place the period before the parenthetical information.

  Keep the passage double spaced.

Example

At the conclusion of Lord of the Flies, Ralph and the other boys

realize the horror of their actions:

The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up

to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering

spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice

rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the

island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys

began to shake and sob too. (186)

This passage represents a strong moment of catharsis . . .

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Step 3: Finish the Play

“All of your work and research leading up to your quotation will only be useful if you finish the play by explaining your quotation in your own words and relating the quotation to your thesis or topic sentence. Don’t miss these easy points by not finishing the play” (James 1).

In Other Words,

Offer some form of analysis as to why the information you quoted is important to your paper and the point you are trying to make. It is not simply enough to leave the information there and not follow up with your own thoughts. For instance, you may argue against someone’s opinion you quoted or add to the person’s opinion.

Use Ending Signal Words

Particularly when paraphrasing sources with no pagination, use signal phrases to re-establish that you are giving your own ideas.

Examples:

In other words, In summary, In short, Therefore, As a result, It follows that, clearly, In other words, As stipulated,

Where can I learn more?!

1.  Consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (Seventh Edition)

2.  Ask your teacher

3.  If submitting for publishing, check other works that have been published by the same entity.

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Sample Walter J. Ong, in an essay entitled “Writing Is a Technology that Restructures Thought,” observes that Literacy is increasingly seen as a normal expectation: “The term ‘illiterate’ itself suggests that persons belonging to the class it designates are deviants, defined by something they lack, namely literacy” (19). Ong highlights the importance of literacy in modern society. Despite, Literacy being a learned skill, it is generally believed to be a necessity to the point that those who have not acquired this skill are seen as outsiders. Therefore, one can easily make the case for the importance of Literacy education in today’s schools, which have recently emphasized math and science.