Incorporating External Resources

Make the best use of your research efforts by

	incorporating reference information smoothly and systematically
	citing your sources accurately and in a consistent manner

Incorporating Reference Materials

Weave the research through the paper rather than patching a paper together with bits of research. Here are some suggestions to help you incorporate reference material effectively.

Put the Information in Your Own Words When Possible

Paraphrase or summarize unless the material is best stated for your purposes as a quotation. Paraphrasing requires restatement of the material in your own words, while conveying the same ideas or conclusions as the original that you are citing. Cite the source for all material that you have paraphrased. Even if the words are your own, you must give the author credit for the specific idea.

Introduce and Comment on Quotations

When a quotation is necessary, weave it into the paper by clarifying its significance to the topic. Avoid stacking quotations on top of each other; rather, incorporate them into the writing instead of inserting writing into the quotations. Introduce the quotation, comment on content, explain its significance, disagree with it if appropriate, but do not drop a lengthy quotation in the middle of the prose with no comment.

Citing Reference Sources

To avoid plagiarism, cite everything you borrow unless that information is common knowledge.

Determine What Constitutes Common Knowledge

Sometimes common knowledge is difficult to determine. Consider information common knowledge if

	reliable authors refer to it without citing its source
	most people knowledgeable in the field accept it as a fact
	few experts would dispute it
	it is reported in most introductory textbooks or basic reference books on the subject

Keep in mind that the ultimate test is whether your audience can access your research by using the material you have provided. If in doubt, cite your source.

Cite Quoted Material

Quotation marks are used to indicate material that is borrowed verbatim--word for word. Standard uses of quotations are summarized below. Those examples also show conventions for citing the sources of information. Sources should be cited for all borrowed material, whether direct quotations or ideas. Citation conventions vary by discipline; these examples use MLA style.

In-Text Quotation

Direct quotations need to be surrounded by quotation marks.

Wilbur Zelinsky argues, "Over a dozen ethnic groups have had major influence on the food in this county"(34).

Wilbur Zelinsky argues that "every ethnic group . . . possesses a distinctive 'home cuisine'"(39).

"Every nationality has its spicy foods, its 'hot items'" (Zelinsky 40).

Comments:

	A comma does not precede a quotation that is introduced by the word "that."
	The three periods with spaces between in the middle of the first quotation are called an ellipsis, indicating that there are several words from the text deleted from the quotation. Any omission in a quotation needs to be indicated.
	The period comes after the parenthetical citation.
	The in-text citation consists of only the page number when the author is incorporated into the text.
	Single quotation marks indicate a quotation within a quotation.
	In-text citation includes the author and page if the name is not incorporated into the text.

Punctuation Challenges

Use a comma: When a phrase using a verb that is a synonym for "say" (exclaimed, remarked, stated, wrote are some past tense examples) introduces (or is attached to) a direct quotation, the "say phrase" is typically set off from the quoted material by a comma.  (Source:  MLA manual)

He exclaimed,  "Oh, this salad dip is really spicy!" (Zelinsky 88).

"Oh, this salad dip is really spicy!" Zack Zelinksy exclaimed (88).

or

"Oh, this salad dip is really spicy," he exclaimed (Zelinsky 88).

Use a colon:  On the other hand, when a quotation is independent from the structure of the main sentence, distinguish the main sentence from the quoted material by a colon. (Source:  MLA manual)

After trying every hamburger spot in town, only Tony's on the Hoof Hamburger Joint was left:  "Finally, right next door to my home, I find the perfect hamburger joint" (Zelinsky 73).

Contrast with

"Finally, right next door to my home, I find the perfect hamburger joint," Zelinksy said, after trying every hamburger spot in town, only to discover that Tony's on the Hoof Hamburger Joint was, without a doubt, the best (73).

Comments:

	First example:  The sentence that sets up the quotation is a full sentence rather than merely being an introduction.  It could stand alone.
	Second example:  The relationship between the quoted material and what follows is based on a "say verb."  Notice that, although what follows the quoted material (...Zelinsky said, etc.) is lengthy, it really does not make sense by itself.

Blocked Quotations

All direct quotations longer than four typed lines of prose (or three lines of poetry) should be blocked. (MLA requires a 10-space indentation and double spacing.) This example illustrates what the text might look like.

Xxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxx x xxx xxxxxxxx. Xxxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxx:

What we are after is that most critical set of cultural attributes of cuisine, the small package that will most parsimoniously signal the complex totality. The term "culture core of cusine" perhaps states most succinctly what is desired. (Zelinsky 39)

Xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxx. Xxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xx.

Comments:

	Culture core of cuisine is surrounded with double quotation marks, just as if it were in your own text.
	MLA style maintains double spacing with a blocked quotation (not shown here). Some other styles single space the block quotation.
	The final punctuation in a blocked quotation precedes the parenthetical citation so that the blocked quotation remains intact.

For additional examples, refer to a standard English handbook or an appropriate style manual.

Creating a Works Cited or Reference Page

Under the in-text citation system, a list of works cited in the document is attached on a separate sheet after the text of the document. In MLA form, that list is called a Works Cited Page. In some others it is known as a Reference Page. A Works Cited page (in contrast to a bibliography) includes only those sources cited in the document. As with the in-text citations, the format of this list varies by discipline. At this web site, you can access additional information about MLA.