Using Other Sources in Research

When writing a research paper, even though you technically gathered the information and put it in your own words, IT IS STILL SOMEONE ELSE’S INFORMATION. They performed experiments, studies, interviews and more. You are using that work, and

so you must give credit to the person who completed that work.

When you paraphrase....

After completing your thoughts put the citation in parentheses at the end of the

sentence followed by a period. You can use any of the following as your citation:

•The author’s last name

•The article’s name

•The website’s name

•The website’s URL

If the whole paragraph is paraphrased from the same source, you only need two citations-one in the middle of the paragraph and one at the end.

When you quote directly from the text.....

After you have written

the quote into your essay:

1.Put quotation marks at the end of the statement.

2.In parentheses put your citation.

3.Put the period to end the sentence after the parentheses.

Just like the paraphrases, you can use any of the following as your citation:

•The author’s last name

•The article’s name

•The website’s name

•The website’s URL

Certain pieces of information fall into the category of common knowledge; these are

things that many people know or even things you already knew about your topic

before you began doing your research. You only need to cite information that you

learned through your research and is totally new to you.

when you’re not sure whether or not you need a citation, put one in. Too many citations can be annoying. Not enough citations is a crime and can get you thrown out of college.