Cite Your Sources -- Why and How

Cite Your Sources: Why & How

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When should you use Wikipedia? Thumbs up or thumbs down:

1.To get a quick overview of your research topic?

2.As the main source of information for your research paper?

3.When reading about a pop culture topic of personal interest?

4.When making an important decision about your health?

5.To see what sources the article’s author’s used?

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•Evaluate information -- don’t believe everything you read

•Always compare multiple sources

•Always cite your sources (Citation Maker, Easybib.com, etc.)

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School pays for access – has info you can’t get free on the web

Edited/fact checked, so often more reliable than websites

Where are they? Go to your school website and look on the Library Home Page.

Also check your public library – you’ll need your card and PIN.

Often include citations!

WHY Cite Your Sources?


Talk to the person next to you for about two minutes about why you think it’s important to

cite your sources.

Write at least two reasons in your notes.

What reasons did you write down?


1. Helps you avoid plagiarism

Always give the author proper credit!

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2. Shows you consulted many good sources. You didn’t just make it up!

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3. Provides a “trail” for your readers, in case they want to follow your path and do further research

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4. Expected in all academic settings, from high school to graduate school to your professional life

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WHEN Should You Cite Your Sources?

1. When you quote from a source

If you use the author’s exact words, put them in “quotation marks” and then cite your source.

2. When you paraphrase a source

If you use the author’s idea, even if you put it in your own words, you must still cite your source.


My source says: Frogs live on every continent except Antarctica, but tropical regions have the greatest number of species. Frogs are classified as amphibians.



My paper says:Frogs are amphibians.

Do I need to cite my source? Thumbs up for yes, down for no.



My paper says:Frogs live on every continent except Antartica.


What else am I missing here?



My paper says:In the third grade, I had a pet

frog called Hoppy.


HOW to Cite Your Sources

Use the OSLIS Citation Maker at:

cm.oslis.org

Click the MLA Secondary link

Choose your Source Type from the yellow box.


Enter information about the book or website

-- Look for place of publication, publisher, and publication date on the copyright page of the book


Note the difference between Title of Work and Title of Overall Website.

Identify the author, if possible

Who published/sponsored the site?

If you can’t answer either of those two questions, are you sure you trust this site?

Works Cited Page


What’s wrong with this Works Cited list?


Questions?

Technology

Cite Your Sources -- Why and How