When do i need to cite a source

Citations reflect the careful and thorough work you have put into locating and exploring your sources. Citations help readers understand the context of your argument and are a courtesy to the reader, who may share your interest in a particular area of study. Citations allow you to acknowledge those authors who contributed to your learning and your work. Citations, by illustrating your own learning process, also draw attention to the originality and legitimacy of your own ideas.

By citing sources you demonstrate your integrity and skill as a responsible student and participant in your field of study. While professors and scholars may have specific requirements based on the needs of their discipline, there are cases where you should always cite your sources. Direct quotes of more than one word. Paraphrasing or summarizing. Information which may be common knowledge but still unfamiliar to your reader.

This would also include statistical information which may be familiar information but still requires confirmation. Not just books or articles should be cited.

Any source that you use for information can and should be cited including interviews, websites, TV programs, etc. Whenever you are not sure if something should be cited, err on the side of caution and cite sources.

How much you quote will determine how it appears in the body of your paper but whether it is one word or an entire paragraph, direct quotes need to be cited. Global warming is being recognized as a major issue throughout the world and as Al Gore instructs, "it is time to make peace with our planet.

This involves translating what you have read or heard and putting it into your own words. Paraphrasing typically refers to putting an idea or passage into your own words. Summarizing involves capturing the main idea or reducing a detailed piece to a shorter and more general synopsis. At the same time, your chosen topic will need a scholarly perspective. Paraphrase : When students are permitted to select their own topic to write about they should choose one that is interesting to them.

The topic should also be scholarly in nature so that students will be able to find appropriate research and resources on the topic. Summary : Students should select writing topics that are interesting and also lend themselves to academic research.

You show, in the body of your paper, where the words or information came from, using an appropriate formatting style. You provide complete information about the source author, title, name of publication, date, etc.

Note: Different disciplines use different citation styles , as do various journals within a single discipline. If you are unsure which to use, check with your instructor. You acknowledge, on your slide, where the graph, chart or other information came from. You use comments to credit the source of any code you adapted from an open source site or other external sources. Generally, providing a URL is sufficient. You also need to follow the terms of any open source license that applies to the code you are using.

Citing sources points the way for other scholars. Although writing code may seem different from writing papers, the same standards of acknowledgment apply.

Some software algorithms are so well known that they rise to the level of Common Knowledge. Programmers use such pieces of code without acknowledgement. For a useful example of unauthorized code borrowing, see this page of the Princeton University website. You may sometimes co-author a paper or other text during college; these opportunities are often more frequent in the professional world.

When two or more people all contribute substantially to a piece, they normally list all their names as authors. But there are also occasions when someone gives help that does not rise to the level of co-authorship.

If you work with a lab partner to set up an experiment, for instance, but run and analyze the results yourself, you should credit the lab partner in a footnote or by reference within your paper. Similarly, if you and a partner present a scene from a play, and you later write a paper using some of the insights you gained during production, you should credit the other actor. University life is structured so that your ideas will receive constant testing and refinement in discussion with others.

You do not need to cite in your papers every conversation you have about the ideas or evidence. But you do need to develop a judgment about which conversations are incidental and which result in ideas that merit reference in your texts. Principles, strategies, and models to deepen your understanding of what good writing looks like—and how to achieve it. The Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning partners with departments and groups on-campus throughout the year to share its space.