What is a citation? Can't I just write about my own experience?
The concepts of citation and plagiarism are confusing to many students, but these are vital things for international students to understand if they are to succeed in an American university.
Using facts, quotes, and statistics is the way you provide "proof" that your thesis is correct. The point of your essay is to
1) prove your thesis and 2) demonstrate your understanding about a complicated issue or academic topic. Using citations to support your argument helps to achieve both of these aims.
Citations are when you indicate where the facts, quotes, and statistics come from. Who did the research? What is the source of this information?
As for personal experience, unless you're writing a personal narrative, this kind of support is subjective, informal, and can at times be fallacious. Using an outside source is a way of saying, "if you don't believe me; look what the research says".
Personal anecdote is often a logical fallacy. For example, just because a friend had his wallet stolen in a certain neighborhood, doesn't necessarily mean that the neighborhood is dangerous. It could be that your friend was just unlucky. To find out how dangerous the neighborhood is, you would have too look at the crime rate of the overall neighborhood by looking at some police data.
Why do I have to cite my sources?
1. To avoid plagiarism
2. To make your argument more credible, believable, professional, formal, academic etc.
3. Citing sources is a way to give others credit for the intellectual work they have done. This concept is called, "intellectual property".
4. Ideas yield more ideas. Ideally, previous research paves the way for new research. Citation integrity allows us to understand the progression of ideas.
5. If the reader thinks the ideas are interesting, he/she might want to read more about the sources you cite.
2. To make your argument more credible, believable, professional, formal, academic etc.
3. Citing sources is a way to give others credit for the intellectual work they have done. This concept is called, "intellectual property".
4. Ideas yield more ideas. Ideally, previous research paves the way for new research. Citation integrity allows us to understand the progression of ideas.
5. If the reader thinks the ideas are interesting, he/she might want to read more about the sources you cite.
When do I have to cite my source?
Ideally, all the time, every time. More often than not.
There is an exception, which is called, "common knowledge". However, this is a slippery slope for international students who might not know what is common knowledge and what it is not. Think about your audience/readers (American professors); what is common knowledge to you may not be common knowledge to them. It's always better to be too careful than to accidentally plagiarize or to not provide enough citations.
Remember, your job as a writer of an essay or research paper is to provide as much evidence as you can to convince your reader that your position (thesis) is true. The more credible sources you include, the more likely your argument will be compelling and effective.
Unsubstantiated Claims & Assertions
An unsubstantiated claim is one that doesn't have any examples or citations to support it.
If you make an assertion, especially predictions and cause/effect relationships, you have to provide proof of your claim.
For example;
It will cost a lot of money. (How much money? According to whom?)
It causes students to fail. (What percentage fail? Can you cite a study about this?)
Hazing results in legal problems. (What kinds of legal problems? Can you cite an example?)
Speaking English with native speakers improves students’ English. (Who did this research? Who found this to be true?)
If you make an assertion, especially predictions and cause/effect relationships, you have to provide proof of your claim.
For example;
It will cost a lot of money. (How much money? According to whom?)
It causes students to fail. (What percentage fail? Can you cite a study about this?)
Hazing results in legal problems. (What kinds of legal problems? Can you cite an example?)
Speaking English with native speakers improves students’ English. (Who did this research? Who found this to be true?)
How do I know if my source is credible? Is it academic enough for my paper?
How do I find sources?
- Use Google Scholar
- Search BU Libraries Database
- Ask A Librarian. The librarians are there to help you find sources!
Use a variety of search terms. If you're having trouble finding sources with one word or phrase try some other synonyms or related terms.
Paraphrase
Citation Basics
2 step citation process:
1. in text citation (in your essay, after the quote, summary or paraphrase, indicates author or publisher)
2. Bibliography or Works Cited (at the end of the paper, on a separate page, full information about the work)
in text citation:
Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263). (indicates author)
Works Cited
Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. London: Oxford UP, 1967. Print. (information about the book)
(example from Perdue OWL: MLA Format)
Reporting Verbs:
1. in text citation (in your essay, after the quote, summary or paraphrase, indicates author or publisher)
2. Bibliography or Works Cited (at the end of the paper, on a separate page, full information about the work)
in text citation:
Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263). (indicates author)
Works Cited
Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. London: Oxford UP, 1967. Print. (information about the book)
(example from Perdue OWL: MLA Format)
Reporting Verbs:
- Use a variety of reporting verbs to cite your sources.
- Reporting structure (some grammar tips for when you cite a source).
Citation Syle
There are different styles of citations for different disciplines and different countries. You need to use a certain citation format depending on your major. Also, if you're taking a class that is not in your major, you should use the style specific to that discipline.
Consult or
The most common citation styles are:
Exercises
There are different styles of citations for different disciplines and different countries. You need to use a certain citation format depending on your major. Also, if you're taking a class that is not in your major, you should use the style specific to that discipline.
Consult or
The most common citation styles are:
Exercises
- MLA Tutorial -> Exercises & Resources
- MLA Citation Practice Drills
- Citation Exercises (expires July 2016)
- MLA & APA Games
- TIC TAC TOE Citation
Zotero
Finally, once you've determined which style you should use. I recommend downloading Zotero.
"Zotero is the only research tool that automatically senses content in your web browser, allowing you to add it to your personal library with a single click. Whether you're searching for a preprint on arXiv.org, a journal article from JSTOR, a news story from the New York Times, or a book from your university library catalog, Zotero has you covered with support for thousands of sites." (Zotero)
Basic Installation Steps:
1. Make sure you have Microsoft Word (free to BU students at the Computer Center)
2. Download Zotero program (looks like i-tunes library with button on Word's toolbar)
3. Download internet browser add on (there should be a button on your browser's toolbar)
Using Zotero Basic Steps:
1. Open your libaray/Zotero program
2. Find a credible source online
3. Click button on your browser's toolbar to save the source to your Zotero library
4. Check entry in the Zotero library to make sure the source type, author's name, date, publisher etc are correct
5. Repeat for all of the sources you want to use in your paper
Using Zotero to create in-text citations:
1. After you've entered the quote or paraphrase you want to use, click the "insert citation" botton in the Zotero toolbar in Word
2. Zotero will prompt you to indicate which citation style you want to use; select your citation style
3. Enter author's name or select source from your Zotero library
4. Zotero will enter the in-text citation where you leave your cursor in the style you indicate
5. Repeat for the rest of the in-text citations (you only need to indicate the citation style once)
Using Zotero to create a Bibliography or Works Cited
1. Finish entering all of your citations in the paper
2. On a separate page at the end of your paper, type either Bibliography or Works Cited depending on your source and center it on the page
3. Press "enter" so your cursor is on the next line
4. Click the "insert bibliography" botton in the Zotero toolbar in Word
5. Zotero will automatically generate your Bibliography or Works Cited
6. Make sure all Bibliography or Works Cited is correct
"Zotero is the only research tool that automatically senses content in your web browser, allowing you to add it to your personal library with a single click. Whether you're searching for a preprint on arXiv.org, a journal article from JSTOR, a news story from the New York Times, or a book from your university library catalog, Zotero has you covered with support for thousands of sites." (Zotero)
Basic Installation Steps:
1. Make sure you have Microsoft Word (free to BU students at the Computer Center)
2. Download Zotero program (looks like i-tunes library with button on Word's toolbar)
3. Download internet browser add on (there should be a button on your browser's toolbar)
Using Zotero Basic Steps:
1. Open your libaray/Zotero program
2. Find a credible source online
3. Click button on your browser's toolbar to save the source to your Zotero library
4. Check entry in the Zotero library to make sure the source type, author's name, date, publisher etc are correct
5. Repeat for all of the sources you want to use in your paper
Using Zotero to create in-text citations:
1. After you've entered the quote or paraphrase you want to use, click the "insert citation" botton in the Zotero toolbar in Word
2. Zotero will prompt you to indicate which citation style you want to use; select your citation style
3. Enter author's name or select source from your Zotero library
4. Zotero will enter the in-text citation where you leave your cursor in the style you indicate
5. Repeat for the rest of the in-text citations (you only need to indicate the citation style once)
Using Zotero to create a Bibliography or Works Cited
1. Finish entering all of your citations in the paper
2. On a separate page at the end of your paper, type either Bibliography or Works Cited depending on your source and center it on the page
3. Press "enter" so your cursor is on the next line
4. Click the "insert bibliography" botton in the Zotero toolbar in Word
5. Zotero will automatically generate your Bibliography or Works Cited
6. Make sure all Bibliography or Works Cited is correct