Here's a breakdown of what in-text citation involves:
Purpose:
* Give credit to the original author: Avoid plagiarism by acknowledging the source of your information.
* Direct readers to the source: Provide a way for readers to find and verify your information.
* Support your claims: Strengthen your arguments by providing evidence from credible sources.
Types of In-Text Citations:
* Parenthetical citations: Place the citation information in parentheses after the information you are citing, typically at the end of the sentence. For example: (Smith, 2023).
* Narrative citations: Integrate the author's name directly into the text of your sentence. For example: "According to Smith (2023),..."
Information Included in In-Text Citations:
* Author's last name(s): If multiple authors, list all names separated by commas, or use "et al." if there are more than three authors.
* Year of publication: Usually included in parentheses after the author's name.
* Page number: If you are citing a specific passage, include the page number after the year of publication, separated by a colon.
Examples:
* Parenthetical: "The study found that 75% of participants reported a positive change in their sleep patterns (Johnson, 2022)."
* Narrative: "Johnson (2022) conducted a study that found 75% of participants reported a positive change in their sleep patterns."
* Specific passage: "The study found that "the majority of participants reported a significant improvement in their sleep patterns" (Johnson, 2022, p. 15).
Consistency:
* Use the same citation style throughout your paper. Different disciplines and institutions may have specific citation style guidelines (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago).
* Be accurate and consistent with the information you provide in your in-text citations.
Note: In-text citations should be used for all direct quotes, paraphrased information, and ideas that are not your own.