Documenting Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism No matter the source or how you use it, you must follow specific guidelines so readers will know exactly Which ideas or words are taken from sources What sources you used Where those sources can be found Doing so will help you avoid plagiarism!

Using Direct Quotations and Paraphrases Direct Quote Tip: If the material you directly quote is a complete sentence, begin your sentence with a signal phrase, followed by a comma, and then the source material (capitalize the first word) with quotation marks around it. End your sentence with a citation and the final punctuation (usually a period). The book states, “It is only a slight exaggeration to say that the seventeenth-century New England was governed by Puritans for Puritanism” (Roark et al. 83).

Using Direct Quotations and Paraphrases Put It Away Tip: When you paraphrase, put the source aside, and then write your own version. Afterward, revise for accuracy by looking at the source. The book states, “It is only a slight exaggeration to say that the seventeenth-century New England was governed by Puritans for Puritanism” (Roark et al. 83). One book suggests that New England of the 1600s was in large part governed by Puritanism for Puritanism (Roark et al. 83). One book suggests that New England of the 1600s was in large part run by Puritans who wanted to preserve Puritanism (Roark et al. 83)

Using Direct Quotations and Paraphrases That Paraphrase Tip: To begin a paraphrase, use that to separate a signal phrase from the material taken from a source. However, avoid introducing a direct quote with that. Error: Darth Vader said that, “No, I am your father.” Correct: Darth Vader said that he was Luke’s father.

Citing Sources Correctly Three-Part Tip: Each time you use a source, assume it has three matching parts: (1) the quote or paraphrase, (2) a matching parenthetical citation, (3) a corresponding entry on a Works Cited page. Part 1Part 2Part 3 Quote +Citation +Works Cited One candidate claimed, “I actually won the election” (Greene 17).Greene, Al. Political Careers. New York: Global, Print.

Citing Sources Correctly Citation Tip: At the end of a sentence that uses a source, provide a parenthetical citation. The normal format is (author’s last name + page number). One candidate claimed, “I actually won the election” (Greene 17). One book explains that jazz musician Louis Armstrong endured great poverty as he grew up in New Orleans (Kerman and Tomlinson 401).

Citing Sources Correctly Works Cited Tip: The Works Cited page should supply everything necessary to locate each source. The typical pattern is author’s name + name of publication + publication details. Works Cited Greene, Al. Political Careers. New York: Global, Print.