When to Cite Sources
You must cite sources when you:
* Use someone else's words directly (quotations): Always enclose these words in quotation marks and provide a citation.
* Summarize or paraphrase someone else's ideas: Even if you put their ideas in your own words, you still need to acknowledge the original source.
* Present facts, statistics, or data that you didn't personally collect: This includes things like research findings, historical events, and scientific data.
* Use visuals, like images, graphs, or charts: Be sure to credit the source of the visual.
* Use someone's opinion or interpretation, even if it's common knowledge: You'll need to indicate the source of the opinion.
Important Considerations:
* Avoid Plagiarism: Failing to cite sources properly is plagiarism, a serious academic offense.
* Provide Enough Information: Your citations should be clear and complete so that others can easily find the source material.
* Consistency is Key: Use a consistent citation style throughout your work (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago).
* Use Your Judgment: While it's always better to err on the side of caution, sometimes common knowledge (like the fact that the Earth is round) doesn't require a citation. However, if you're not sure, it's best to cite it.
Example:
Let's say you're writing a paper about the history of the internet. You might find this information:
> The first public network connection was made on October 26, 1969, at UCLA.
Here's how you would cite it:
* Direct quote: "The first public network connection was made on October 26, 1969, at UCLA." (Leiner et al., 2009)
* Paraphrase: The first public network connection was established at UCLA on October 26, 1969. (Leiner et al., 2009)
In both cases, you've given credit to the source and provided enough information for readers to find it.