Exercise 17-h on In-text Citations and Works Cited page
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CredibleSourcesandResearchpapertips.pptxFinding Credible Sources & Research Paper Tips
Mignette Dorsey
The Research Paper
A research paper is an argument essay that includes MANY outside sources.
To remain on track while writing such an essay, writers must constantly look back at their thesis statements to ensure that they are addressing all the points mentioned.
Avoiding Plagiarism
Definition: “Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas as if they were your own.”
Students can be dismissed from school; reporters have been fired for plagiarism; writers can be sued for it.
Writers are obligated to give proper credit where it is due: author’s name, book, article or essay title, year published.
Avoiding Plagiarism
When the information is common knowledge, you don’t have to cite or document the source:
Historical events
Common dates such as presidential terms
Commonly known facts: temperature water boils, effects of smoking
Avoiding Plagiarism: Using & Synthesizing Sources
Synthesizing sources is using more than one source in an essay.
Synthesizing sources is taking pieces of information from different sources and weaving them into the writer’s own argument.
In a research paper, the writer organizes his/her argument, then weaves in sources to prove that argument.
The best advice is to write your argument essay first, and then go back and work in the outside source material. That way, your similarity index in Turnitin.com is low.
Avoiding Plagiarism: Using & Synthesizing Sources
A mistake writers make in research papers is making loose connections between their own opinionated arguments and the support evidence from their sources.
Example: Research shows people who own pets live longer. Therefore, everyone should own a dog.
Is there something missing between the words “longer” and “therefore”?
Avoiding Plagiarism: Direct Quotation, Paraphrase, Summary
Writers have the option of:
1. Quoting their sources directly (word for word);
2. Paraphrasing (putting another’s words in your own words); or,
3. Summarizing the source’s words.
4. Using partial quotations
MLA Citations
You will include both in-text citations and a bibliography or “Works Cited” page at the end of the essay
Even if you summarize an outside source, you still need an in-text or parenthetical citation following that summary. You will also cite that source in a full citation on the Works Cited page.
MS Word has a citation tool under “References”
Visit Purdue University’s Style Guide: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
Visit MWLab Research Tools for MLA citations:
Research tools>documentation & avoiding plagiarism>guidelines for MLA
Avoiding Plagiarism: Taking Notes on Sources
Tips:
- Use note cards to record quotes and source locations as you research.
- Use a separate note card for each idea.
The rule: Never have more than 10 percent of directly quoted information in your paper.
The rule: 90 percent of your outside research material should be paraphrased or summarized.
The rule: If you can’t rephrase the information any better than your source, then use a direct quotation.
Finding Sources
Credibility of sources
Internet
Try to stick with the databases through the Lone Star College online databases.
If using Google (which is not recommended), at the end of any URL website will be .com, .edu, .gov, or .org. The last three are generally reputable. Be wary of .com, anyone can purchase one.
Finding Sources
Books: Remember to search for book titles on your topic. Check the book’s table of contents for information that pertains to your research topic.
Government (.gov) search engine: www.usa.gov
>news>news history or >today’s front pages
