Parenthetical Citations

English II—Academic

Research Writing

Peer Edit

Read through your partner’s paper. Circle the topic sentence. Underline the explanation sentences. Squiggly the support/quote/statistic. Box the closing sentence. Write comments and suggestions to improve

their background and first body paragraphs.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism: the use of someone else’s words or ideas while claiming them as your own. It is a form of stealing

Plagiarism

Two Forms: Stealing Words Stealing Ideas

Stealing Words

If you use three or more words exactly as they are written, cite your source. Also, put those words you use into quotation marks. This includes even well-known phrases

“I have a dream” (MLK Jr.) Even if you only use a few of the words, and you

sprinkle those words throughout your sentence. Ms. Muselin promised her students “fun prizes” that

she said would only come if students offered “wonderful” or “insightful” answers (Ms. Muselin).

Stealing Ideas

If the idea you put into your paper is not common knowledge or if the idea is a product of someone else’s analysis, cite the source. In Of Mice and Men, the river bank was

symbolic of the Garden of Eden since this is where Lennie and George fell from grace. (someone else’s analysis)

Over 2/3 of Americans are obese. (a statistic that is not common knowledge)

Exceptions to the rule

When using ideas, statistics, and dates that are known by many people or are very easy to find, you do not need to cite that information. Oprah Winfrey is the one of the wealthiest women in

the world. (common knowledge) The War on Terror unofficially began on September

11th, 2001 with the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. (most people know this date, and if they do not, it would be very easy to find it in a reference book.

To Cite or Not To Cite

“There is nothing to fear but fear itself”

Should we cite this?

To Cite or Not To Cite

YES!!!!!!!! Always cite direct quotations regardless of

how well known the quote.

To Cite or Not To Cite

Franklin Roosevelt had to analyze the feelings of Americans during the Depression to recognize that they were afraid their economic system was a failure. Should we cite this?

To Cite or Not To Cite

YES!!!!!!!! Always cite a source when you paraphrase or

summarize some other writer’s conclusions based on his or her analysis.

To Cite or Not To Cite

The president knew that over 53.6% of his constituents were out of work and that there was no work to be found. Should we cite this?

To Cite or Not To Cite

YES!!!!!!!! Always cite statistics that are not common

knowledge.

To Cite or Not To Cite

Roosevelt was known as the President who brought the country out of the Depression.

Should we cite this?

To Cite or Not To Cite

NO!!!!!!! Do not cite common knowledge

To Cite or Not To Cite

The first year of the Roosevelt administration was 1932.

Should we cite this?

To Cite or Not To Cite

NO!!!!! Dates like this are known to many people and

are found in millions of textbooks and reference books. Dates, like this one, qualify as common knowledge.

Parenthetical (…) Citations

Prevents plagiarism Helps keep your paper flowing smoothly

The citation follows the information you are using.

Example: Just 15 percent of the student body visited the

area when the tar pits were opened in the 1980’s (Evers and Boulton 6).

How to use Parenthetical Citations

Must always include the author’s name and the page number. Two ways to do this:

Author’s name in text Author’s name in citation

Parenthetical Citations

Markham believes that both authors have created a variation in presenting time which he calls “non-linear fusion” (9).

The particular presentation of time used by both authors has been called “non-linear fusion” (Markham 9).