It is extremely important to learn how to cite your sources well. Using ideas, facts, or even just a theme developed by another writer without his or her acknowledgment is considered to be plagiarism. Stating, for example, that Englewood was registered in 1859 by J. Wyman Jones without stating the source for your information suggests that you discovered the information on your own. Also, putting a general reference at the end of the paper does not qualify as a citation.
The following are basic guidelines of when to cite and how to cite using the MLA Style. Keep in mind, the standard saying is "when in doubt, cite."
You may be asking yourself, "When do I have to cite?" Good question.
There are five major times when you must cite in a research paper, as noted below. Although you may not be writing a research paper yet, familiarizing yourself with citation requirements will make you a better reader and writer, and prepare you for the inevitable.
Direct Quotation: Using actual words from an author - this includes the "copy and paste" from a website. Must be put into quotes and cited.
Paraphrase: Even mixing up the words and restating the sentence requires citation. Example: "It was a dark and stormy night." (original) to "The night was dark and stormy." still requires citation.
Summary: If you summarize or use another person's ideas without credit, you are still plagiarizing. You have to cite at the end of the summary from where the idea came.
Facts, Information, and Data: This is the most difficult rule to summarize. You don't have to cite knowledge that can reasonably be considered "common knowledge." Yes, the definition is fuzzy but see the rule above. (The general rule here is that if the information is included in a published encyclopedia [NOT Wikipedia], it can be assumed to be common knowledge. For example, "Abraham Lincoln was President of the United States" may be considered to be common knowledge.)
Judgement/Opinion: If you state an opinion that's yours, it does not need to be cited. However, in some cases, you're not just stating an opinion, but relying on someone else's authority. For example, "Dizzy Gillespie was the greatest jazz musician" may or may not need citation. If it is your opinion, you would not need to cite it. But if this opinion were stated by another writer and you are following that opinion, you need to cite your source.
Developed by: Constance Clark, Brian Hall, Peter Mecca, Barbara Schneider and Susan Suriani.