Citation Day Tips Making the Best Use of Resource Info in Your Thesis Paper

Your Thesis Paper Starting with the major work(s) by your chosen author, analyze how your author’s life & vision for the future is seen in his/her writing. Key points may include characters, locations/settings, ideas/philosophies, etc.

Support Your Research u Use primary sources (how many?) u Use secondary sources u Use both web (3) & print (5) sources

Primary Sources  Support Your Thesis/Opinion  Show Understanding of the Author  Discuss the Time Period of the Author

Secondary Sources  Support Your Thesis/Opinion  Show Authorities Agree

Authoritative Secondary Sources  Use only “authoritative” sources  Authoritative = trustworthy or acclaimed  Use your web eval sheets for each website!!!  Avoid cheat sites, “study” sites, encyclopedias, or dictionaries – NO TERTIARY!

Minimum 8 Quotes! That means at leasts 8 different sources -- the more primary the better! Citations

REMEMBER MLA RULE: Sources only count if you cite -- quote, paraphrase, summarize -- from them in your paper!

Common Knowledge Rule You must cite anything you take from another source as long as it is not COMMON KNOWLEDGE! (Examples: birth dates, death dates, kids’ names)

Paraphrases & Summaries In addition to direct quotes, you should cite paraphrases or summaries from books or the internet!

MLA Citations MLA demands in-text citations that reference your Works Cited page. Your citation in the papers needs to direct the reader to the proper source as listed at the end of your thesis paper!

MLA Update changes in MLA:  No more Underlining (only use italics)  Adds Publication Medium (e.g. Print, Web, etc.)  New Abbreviations (e.g. “N.p.” for “no publisher given”)

Your Instructor Knows Best #1 Rule for any formatting style is … ALWAYS Follow your instructor’s guidelines!

MLA Guidelines  Use italics for titles of books, magazines, newspapers & other long works  Quotation marks for short stories, short poems, magazine or newspaper articles

Title Page  Standard MLA format calls for no Title page  For experience, however, I want you to create one.  See example – include title, photo/graphic of your author & info as seen in example  On 1 st text page of paper, center your title, double space & begin your 1 st paragraph.  Be sure to use header with your last name & page 1!

MLA Basic Rule To mark material that you have found in other sources, use parentheses and author’s name with page # at the end of your sentence or quote. Period is AFTER the closing parenthesis.

MLA Basic Rule The author’s name can be omitted if it has already been included in the sentence. Period is AFTER the closing parenthesis.

MLA Basic Rule If you are using multiple works by the same author, you will need to include the title of the work either in your sentence or in the citation.

Short/Long Quote Size “Short quotes” are handled by including in the sentence itself. MLA rule is that a “long quote” is “4 or more lines” of quoted material. Long quotes receive special formatting.

Long Quote Example

Long Quote Formatting “Long quotes” are handled in block text format. Double indent the text. Don’t use quote marks or indent first line. Text goes all the way to right margin. Punctuate at the end of the sentence, not after the parenthetical citation.

REMEMBER You will need one “long quote” in the body of your paper for this thesis paper.

Mistakes in the Quote? Quotes are supposed to be the exact words from the source. But you don’t want to get marked down if there were mistakes in the original. Be sure to know how to use the (sic) rule!

(sic) Rule If there is a typo or bad grammar that you think your teacher will mark you down for, type the Latin word sic in parentheses next to the problem word or section. That means this was the way it was found in the original source.

Keeping Poetic Lines “Poetic” Poetry depends on meter and rhyme. Sometimes poetic lines omit punctuation. To keep poetic lines intact, use the / to mark where lines split or end.

Work Cited Page Basics For Print Sources You NEED… author, title, (editor/translator) city, publisher, copyright date

Work Cited Page Basics For Web Sources You NEED… author, title, website, copyright date, & access date. MLA 2009 makes URL optional. Mr. Payne wants you to include…

Double-space Works Cited entries! MLA format calls for everything to be double-spaced! NEVER double double-space! (& check your MS Word default!)

Alpha Order for Works Cited Entries! MLA format demands all sources are sorted alphabetically by author’s last name. If no author is listed, use first important word of title. NEVER number your sources or separate print & web sources!

Works Cited Example Page

REMEMBER MLA is a universal standard - you can find it in your student handbook, on-line on the FVL English Dept web page and most university web sites! Purdue’s OWL site is one of best -

Outlines & Title Pages For this thesis paper, you will be expected to include a final outline as well as a title page. NOTE: These pages do not count in your 6-7 page total!

Outline Reminders  Everything is double-spaced! (No double-doublespace!)  Punctuate all book titles/short stories/articles  This page has no header or number (see HE web example)  Formatting = I. > A. > 1. > a. > i.  NOTE: Turn off MS Word auto-formatting feature!

Outline Example Page

Need More Help? Check out These Helpful Resources on the HE Web Page under “Long Range Assignments”!

Review of MLA Paper Setup  Type on white 8.5” x 11” paper  Double-space everything – NO Double-doublespace!  Use 12 pt. Times New Roman font (or similar font)  Leave only one space after punctuation  Set all margins to 1 inch on all sides  Header with last name & page # in upper right corner  Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch