MLA Documentation Style Writing Resources Center

Writing Resources Center (WRC) Locations: 149 Cameron 109 Atkins Library Center for Graduate Life (CGL) Phone: Web: Appointments: 2

3 Integrating Sources & Avoiding Plagiarism Writers need to understand current definitions of plagiarism, which have changed over time, and which differ from culture to culture. Adapted from: Lunsford, Andrea. The Everyday Writer. 3 rd ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s, Print.

4 What is “Plagiarism”?Plagiarism In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source. This definition applies to texts published in print or online, to manuscripts, and to the work of other students.

5 What is NOT Plagiarism?Plagiarism Most current discussions of plagiarism fail to distinguish between plagiarism and misuse of sources. A student who attempts (even if clumsily) to identify and credit his or her source, but who misuses a specific citation format or incorrectly uses quotation marks or other forms of identifying material taken from other sources, has not plagiarized. Instead, the student has failed to cite and document sources appropriately.

6 Plagiarism Is a Cultural Concept Many cultures do not recognize Western notions of plagiarism, which rest on the belief that language and ideas can be “owned” by writers. In many countries other than the U.S., using the words and ideas of others without attribution is considered a sign of respect as well as an indication of knowledge.

7 Materials That Require Acknowledgement Quotations, paraphrases, summaries Facts not widely known or claims that are arguable Help provided by others

8 Materials That Do NOT Require Acknowledgement In academic writing in the U.S., you should credit all materials except: Common knowledge Ideas available in a wide variety of sources Your own findings from primary or field research

9 Understand Why to Credit Sources Show that you are a knowledgeable and credible researcher. Demonstrate fairness—that you have considered multiple points of view. Provide background for your research by placing it in the context of the work of others. Help readers follow your thoughts and understand how your ideas relate to those of others. Point readers where to go to find more information on your subject.

Avoid Misuse of Sources Frequently, students unintentionally misuse sources when they attempt to paraphrase: to rephrase someone else’s ideas into your own words and sentence patterns.

Paraphrasing “The rise of industry, the growth of cities, and the expansion of the population were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history. As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and provided jobs for a rising tide of immigrants. With industry came urbanization, the growth of large cities (like Fall River, Massachusetts, where the Bordens lived), which became the centers of production as well as of commerce and trade.” Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. Lizzie Borden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s.Bloomington, IN: TIS Publications, Print.

Unacceptable Paraphrase The increase of industry, the growth of cities, and the explosion of the population were three large factors of nineteenth century America. As steam-driven companies became more visible in the eastern part of the country, they changed farm hands into factory workers and provided jobs for the large wave of immigrants. With industry came the growth of large cities like Fall River where the Bordens lived, which turned into centers of commerce and trade as well as production.

An Unacceptable Paraphrase Is Too Close to the Original The increase of industry, the growth of cities, and the explosion of the population were three large factors of nineteenth century America. As steam-driven companies became more visible in the eastern part of the country, they changed farm hands into factory workers and provided jobs for the large wave of immigrants. With industry came the growth of large cities like Fall River where the Bordens lived, which turned into centers of commerce and trade as well as production.

Acceptable Paraphrase According to Williams, Smithburn, and Peterson, Fall River, where the Borden family lived, was typical of northeastern industrial cities of the Nineteenth century. Steam-powered production had shifted labor from agriculture to manufacturing, and as immigrants arrived in the U.S., they found work in these new factories. As a result, populations grew, and large urban areas arose. Fall River was one of these manufacturing and commercial centers (200). Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. Lizzie Borden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s.Bloomington, IN: TIS Publications, Print.

What Makes a Good Paraphrase? Uses your own words and sentence patterns Demonstrates your inferential thought processes Rather than being merely a faithful reproduction of the ideas in source text, an effective paraphrase is one that expresses your perspective. Includes a citation.

Acceptable Paraphrase with Quotation According to Williams, Smithburn, and Peterson, Fall River, where the Borden family lived, was typical of northeastern industrial cities of the nineteenth century. As labor shifted from agriculture to manufacturing, the demand for workers “transformed farm hands into factory workers,” and created jobs for immigrants. In turn, growing populations increased the size of urban areas. Fall River was one of these manufacturing hubs that were also “centers of commerce and trade” (200). Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. Lizzie Borden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s.Bloomington, IN: TIS Publications, Print.

Acceptable Paraphrase with Quotation Fall River, where the Borden family lived, was typical of northeastern industrial cities of the nineteenth century. As labor shifted from agriculture to manufacturing, the demand for workers “transformed farm hands into factory workers,” and created jobs for immigrants. In turn, growing populations increased the size of urban areas. Fall River was one of these manufacturing hubs that were also “centers of commerce and trade” (Williams, Smithburn, and Peterson 200). Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. Lizzie Borden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s.Bloomington, IN: TIS Publications, Print.

Paraphrasing Accurately Include all main points, in the order of the original. State the author’s meaning in your own words and sentence structures. If you use language from the original, enclose in quotation marks. Include an in-text citation. Provide a complete citation in your Works Cited.

MLA is One—of Many—Citation Styles MLA – Modern Language Association (humanities) MLA APA – American Psychological Association (social sciences, business) APA CMS or Chicago Manual of Style (history) CMS CSE – Council of Science Editors (sciences) CSE IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (engineering) IEEE

Key Points Citation machines are helpful, but can be inaccurate. As you move from one field to another, find out the preferred citation style and practice it. Citing sources is not about memorizing rules; it is about learning to use available resources to help you give credit to other writers for their words and ideas. 20

Significant Changes in the 2009 MLA Handbook, 7 th ed. No Underlining. Titles of books, periodicals, films, etc. are now italicized. No URLs. Include the URL only if the citation information does not lead readers easily to the source. Continuous Pagination? Who Cares? For all scholarly journal entries, both volume and issue numbers are now required, regardless of pagination.

Significant Changes in the 2009 MLA Handbook, 7 th ed. Publication Medium. Most will be listed as Print or Web. Other possibilities include Performance, DVD, TV. Most designations appear at the end of entries; however, markers for Web sources are followed by the date of access. New Abbreviations. Many Web entries now require a publisher name, a date of publication, and/or page numbers. When no publisher name appears on the website, write N.p. for no publisher given. When sites omit a date of publication, write n.d. for no date. For online journals that appear only online or on databases that do not provide pagination, write n. pag. for no pagination.

Print MLA Resources The th edition of the MLA Handbook (blue cover) is available; however, some instructors may still use the 6th edition (silver cover). Ask your professor. Copies of these manuals are available in Atkins Library.Atkins Library

MLA Sample Papers From the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7 th ed.MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers From Diana Hacker’s Research & Documentation OnlineResearch & Documentation Online

MLA Documentation Resources UNCC Writing Resources Center (WRC) Purdue U. Online Writing Lab (OWL) UNCC Atkins Library

Writing Resources Center (WRC) Locations: 220 Fretwell 109 Atkins Library Phone: HELP (4357) Web: Appointments: 26