Citing Research

Research  In your body paragraphs, you must include research.  EVERY TIME you refer to something from research, put an in-text citation at the end of the sentence.  Example: “Some experts say that by hosting these videos, YouTube encourages young viewers to take deadly risks” (O’Neill 11).  THE PERIOD GOES AFTER THE CITATION.

In-Text Citations  Also known as: 1. internal citations 2. parenthetical citations  Include the author’s last name and page number (if available).  If the source has no author, use a shortened version of the title of the article in quotation marks.  Do not use the printer page numbers. Many online sources will not have page numbers.

Direct Quotes  Direct Quotes are when you take what the author said word-for-word and use it in your essay.  You need quotation marks around what the author said.  You need a signal phrase to introduce the quote and explain who the author is.

Direct Quotes Continued  Example:  In the words of Scope magazine author Justin O’Neill, “Some experts say that by hosting stunt videos, YouTube encourages young viewers to take deadly risks” (11).  If you use the author’s name in the signal phrase, you DO NOT need to put their name in the in-text citation…just the page number.  If there is NO page number, you will not have an in- text citation for that sentence.

Signal Phrase Examples  According to…  In the words of…  As ______ argues…  _____ confirms…  Other Signal Phrase Verbs:  Informs  Suggests  Admits  Recommends  Disputes  Acknowledges  Adds  Declares

Paraphrasing  If you put the research ENTIRELY in your own words, it’s called paraphrasing. No quotations are required.  The Source Says: Some experts say that by hosting these videos, YouTube encourages young viewers to take deadly risks.  Paraphrased Well: Because YouTube popularizes the videos, it has been accused of encouraging viewers to try dangerous stunts (O’Neill 11).

Plagiarizing  If you do not put the research ENTIRELY in your own words, it’s called patchwriting.  The Source Says: Some experts say that by hosting these videos, YouTube encourages young viewers to take deadly risks.  Patchwritten : Some experts argue that by showing the videos, YouTube tempts teens to try dangerous stunts (O’Neill 11).  TOO CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL  SIMPLY USING SYNONYMS DOES NOT WORK  IDEAS ARE IN THE EXACT SAME ORDER

Works Cited Page  The in-text citations tell the reader which source you are citing from your Works Cited page.  Every research paper must have a Works Cited page. Please see Easybib.com or Noodle Tools from our school’s library page for help in formatting this.  No Works Cited page = late points applied  For specific guidelines about how to format your Works Cited page in MLA style, refer to your MLA Format and Guidelines handout.

Reminder about Plagiarism  Please be sure to follow all citation rules to properly give credit to the sources you are borrowing from.  Do not try to pass other’s words off as your own. You wouldn’t want someone to take your work and get credit for it, so please do not do this to others. If you are unsure about how to cite something, please ask and we will work it out together or look up how to cite it properly.

Practice Time!  What do you want to write an essay about? Let’s think about key words you can search regarding the social issue that causes the conflict in the book you have chosen!  Then, make a cause and effect outline to solidify your ideas.