What are Parenthetical
Citations?
Acknowledging words,
facts, or ideas from
another source.
Why do we need parenthetical
citations?
It is important to give credit to the sources
you use. When you copy words and ideas
that are not yours and use them without
giving credit, it is called plagiarism.
How do I avoid plagiarism?
You can avoid plagiarism,
which is a serious offense,
by giving credit to your
sources. People who
plagiarize may receive a
failing grade or even be
expelled from school.
Doesn’t the “Works Cited”
page give credit?
Yes, the Works Cited page at the end of your
paper is important in giving credit to the
sources you used. However, it doesn’t give
your reader information on what exactly
you used from each source or exactly
where you found the material.
When must you give credit?
When you quote exact words
If you use the exact words of an author, you
need to include them in “quotation marks.”
Give Credit
When you summarize facts and
ideas from a source:
Summarizing means
taking ideas from a larger
passage and condensing
them into your own words.
Give Credit
When you paraphrase:
If you use the ideas
or opinions from
someone else and
restate them in your
own words, you still
need to cite the
source.
Citing sources when you have all
the information
• The most common type of credit (citation) lists the
author’s last name and the page number in parentheses.
In 1900, the worst hurricane in the United States history hit
Galveston, Texas. “A storm surge almost two stories high broke
over the city, causing 20- foot floods and more than 8,000 deaths”
(Skelton 4).
• If you already name the author in your report, just
include the page number in parentheses.
In Hurricane Force, Michael Miles explains that cool air
draws heat and moisture from warm bodies of water to form a storm (22).
Citing sources when some of the
information is missing
•
Some sources do not list an author. In those cases, use
the title and page number.
The winds of a hurricane are most violent around the eye
(“Hurricane Season” 7).
•
Some sources do not use page numbers. In those
cases, list just the author.
Hurricanes in the Indian Ocean are called cyclones (Nealy).
•
If a source does not list the author or page number, use
the title.
In Southeast Asia, they are called typhoons (“Big Wind”).
Parenthetical citations should be:
• Brief
• Give only enough information to identify
the source on your Works Cited page
Always check to make sure you
give credit to your sources
Include a Works Cited page:
A complete list of every source that you make
reference to in your report. This provides the
information necessary for a reader to locate
and retrieve any sources cited in your paper.
Use parenthetical citations
when you
• Quote
• Summarize
• Paraphrase
Wrap up a great paper !