primary source analysis

HIST 152 A. Shimko

How to Properly Cite Primary and Secondary Sources

When do you need to provide citations?

• Whenever you reference an idea(s) that is not your own, either by quote or paraphrase (using your own words to explain someone else’s ideas).

• You must cite the textbook and/or primary source document in your initial discussion post, and you may choose to cite them in your weekly responses.

Why do you provide citations?

• Do give the primary or secondary author credit for their work

• To avoid plagiarism

• Is it plagiarism? See: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/02/

• Purdue’s academic integrity policy: http://www.purdue.edu/odos/osrr/academic-integrity/index.html

How should you cite in this course? There are two options:

• You may paraphrase (put someone else’s ideas in your own words). If you do so, follow the following examples: o Textbook example: Foner describes the group of Republicans who wanted to give black men the right to vote as

“Radical Republicans” (Foner, 581).

o Document example—only page number required: The Black Codes stipulated that freedmen could be part of civil cases (9).

• You may quote. If you do so, follow the following examples: o Textbook example: The Black Codes were “laws passed by the new southern governments that attempted to regulate

the lives of former slaves” (Foner, 580).

o Document example—only page number required: Section Four stated that “they shall also be competent witnesses in all criminal prosecutions where the crime charged is alleged to have been committed by a white person...” (9).

NOTE: You will also use citations in the one-page response papers. For these you only need cite the document you choose by page

number using the examples above. If you do decide to reference the textbook use the examples above as well.