Citations vs. References
* Citations: Short, in-text notes that point the reader to the full source information in your bibliography. They appear within the body of your work (e.g., "(Smith, 2023)" or "As Smith (2023) states...").
* References (Bibliography): A complete list of all sources cited in your work, providing full details so readers can find them. This list typically appears at the end of your report.
Copying a Paragraph: Is it a Citation or Reference?
* It's both! You need to cite the paragraph within your report and include it in your references at the end.
How to Do It
1. Direct Quote: Since you're copying the exact text, use quotation marks (" ") to enclose the paragraph. Immediately after the paragraph, add a citation. Here's an example:
"This is the paragraph you are copying from the book. It makes a key point about the topic. (Smith, 2023, p. 55)"
2. Reference: Create a reference entry for the book in your bibliography. Here's a typical format:
Smith, J. (2023). *Title of Book*. Publisher.
Important Notes
* Plagiarism: Copying a whole paragraph without proper attribution is plagiarism and is academic misconduct. Always give credit to the original author.
* Fair Use: Even with proper citation, you should only copy short passages or excerpts. For longer pieces, consider summarizing or paraphrasing instead.
* Copyright: Be aware of copyright restrictions. While some materials are in the public domain, others may require permission before you can use them.
In Summary
When you copy a paragraph from a book, you need to cite it within your text and include it in your references. This ensures you give proper credit to the author and helps your reader find the original source.