CITING SOURCES Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Sixth Ed. New York: MLA of America, 2003.

What is Research? “We undertake research when we wish to explore an idea, probe an issue, solve a problem, or make an argument that compels us to turn to outside help.” Research should be combined with your own ideas and opinions. An important purpose of researching and writing is to strengthen your own understanding of a topic. Think of research like an intellectual adventure or mystery!

While researching… Take notes on information by paraphrasing (briefly record in your own words) Summarize your findings, again in your own words To avoid plagiarism, you must cite your sources when researching and give credit where credit is due!

Plagiarism Comes from the Latin plagiarius, meaning “kidnapper” Plagiarism involves passing off someone else’s ideas or words as your own. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: Deliberately borrowing, stealing or buying a paper from someone else Quoting a source without citing Building on someone else’s ideas or arguments without citing Relying on a source too heavily when taking notes or summarizing

Plagiarism “Plagiarists are pitied because they reveal their inability to develop and express their own thoughts. They are scorned because they are dishonest and use others for personal gain.” In middle school, plagiarism results in a failure for that assignment and parent contact. In college, plagiarism may result in failure on the assignment, the course, or expulsion. In the job market, plagiarism results in losing your job and public embarrassment.

Shattered Glass Shattered Glass trailer The reporter Stephen Glass once wrote articles for many prestigious magazines, such as The New Republic and Rolling Stone. He lost his job and his reputation when it was discovered that he was making up many of his stories, quotations, sources, and events.

Cite sources when you… Use or refer to someone else’s words or ideas Gain information through interviewing another person Copy the exact words or a “unique phrase” Reprint diagrams, illustrations, charts, pictures, videos, music Build on other people’s ideas or arguments

Don’t cite sources when you… Write from your own experiences, observations, insights, thoughts, conclusions about a subject Use “common knowledge” or generally accepted facts, things that everyone should already know

Types of Sources Books Articles in journals, newspapers, and magazines Non-print sources: sound and video recordings Electronic sources: internet sites, databases Reference works: biographies, encyclopedias, dictionaries

MLA Format Professional writers (and students) cite sources in specific formats; this shows that you understand the “code” of academics and should be taken seriously. The format used by students of the arts (like the language arts) is from the Modern Language Association, abbreviated MLA. Sources are formatted and put together on a “Works Cited” page at the end of a paper.

Citing a Book 1. Author’s full name (last name first) - TITLE PAGE 2. Full title (including any subtitle) – TITLE PAGE 3. Edition – TITLE PAGE 4. Number of volume (like an encyclopedia) – TITLE PAGE 5. City of publication – TITLE OR COPYRIGHT PAGE 6. Name of publishing company – TITLE PAGE 7. Year of publication – COPYRIGHT PAGE

Citing a Book Format the information to look like this: Author’s last name, Author’s first name. Full Title of Work. Ed. Vol #. City: Publisher’s name, year of publication.

Research for your Narrative: Choose one of the medieval texts to research for background information for your narrative: Sundiata: Lion King of Mali Sundiata Background Info (from Sundiata: an Epic of Old Mali) The Making of a Knight The Medieval World Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village Create an MLA citation for your chosen research. After your citation is checked, grab a copy of the resource and answer the questions on your research organizer.

Evaluating Sources

Citing a Newspaper/Magazine Article

Citing an Internet Source

Citing a Non-print Source