Transcript The Epic of Gilgamesh - Academic Computer Center

Working with Secondary
Sources
Courtesy of Professor Baldwin
English Department
Prince George’s Community College
Contents
 WHEN
to cite
 WHY we cite
 SPECIAL PROBLEMS
WHEN to Cite
(and avoid plagiarism)
WHEN to Cite
(and avoid plagiarism)

You must cite your source
when you a) use another
writer’s exact words, b)
use another writer’s ideas,
although you paraphrase
her language (put it into
your own words…), or c)
base your own argument
closely on the ideas of
another writer.
First, let’s understand exactly
what constitutes plagiarism…

You discover a paper
(maybe from the
Internet, maybe
something that one of
your co-workers wrote
for his EGL 102 class),
and you submit that
paper, word for word, as
your own. Is this
plagiarism?
First, let’s understand exactly
what constitutes plagiarism…

You discover a paper
(maybe from the
Internet, maybe
something that one of
your co-workers wrote
for his EGL 102 class),
and you submit that
paper, word for word, as
your own. Is this
plagiarism?
All of us, I hope,
would recognize
that submitting
someone else’s
work as one’s
own is a clear-cut
case of
plagiarism…
First, let’s understand exactly
what constitutes plagiarism…

And most of us
(and all English
professors!)
would have
“zero tolerance”
for this kind of
academic
dishonesty!!!
All of us, I hope,
would recognize
that submitting
someone else’s
work as one’s
own is a clear-cut
case of
plagiarism…
Example #2

You have read three
articles on Iago’s
character, and you
include paragraphs from
all three in your own
paper, with a few
changes made to the
language. You don’t use
quotation marks or
parenthetical citations,
but you do list the three
sources in your Works
Cited page. Is this
plagiarism?
Example #2

Yes! Even if you have
You have read three
acknowledged your use of the
articles on Iago’s
source material in the Works
character, and you
Cited page, you have not
include paragraphs from indicated that you are quoting
all three in your own
directly from the sources (with
paper, with a few
quotation marks &
changes made to the
language. You don’t use parenthetical citations telling
your readers the author and
quotation marks or
parenthetical citations, page…). This, too, is
but you do list the three plagiarism, even if you have
sources in your Works
included some writing of your
Cited page. Is this
own and a Works Cited page
plagiarism?
at the end…
Example #3

You’ve read a very fascinating article
arguing that Iago fits the modern
definition of a sociopath. Since you are
a psychology major, you are especially
interested in this idea. You write your
own essay using this writer’s thesis
and a few of his examples, as well as a
few examples of your own. You do not
list the original essay in your Works
Cited list, although you do list three
other sources that you quote from. Is
this plagiarism?
Example#3

You’ve read a very fascinating article
arguing that Iago fits the modern
definition of a sociopath. Since you are
a psychology major, you are especially
interested in this idea. You write your
own essay using this writer’s thesis
and a few of his examples, as well as a
few examples of your own. You do not
list the original essay in your Works
Cited list, although you do list three
other sources that you quote from. Is
this plagiarism?
YES!!!
Example #3
Even though you have come up
with some of your own examples
and used other secondary
sources in your paper, you do
need to acknowledge that the
idea for your paper (as well as
some of your examples) came
from another writer’s work.
Without acknowledging your debt
to that writer, you are presenting
the thesis or idea as your own,
when it was not…
YES!!!
Example #4

You’ve read an excellent
article, and part of one
paragraph says EXACTLY
what you want to say…
You try to paraphrase it,
but the original is so
perfect that you decide to
include it word for word in
your paper. You do
remember to include a
parenthetical citation, but
you don’t use quotation
marks around the direct
quotation. Is this
plagiarism?
Example #4

You’ve read an excellent
article, and part of one
paragraph says EXACTLY
what you want to say…
You try to paraphrase it,
but the original is so
perfect that you decide to
include it word for word in
your paper. You do
remember to include a
parenthetical citation, but
you don’t use quotation
marks around the direct
quotation. Is this
plagiarism?
Yes! Using another writer’s
language without indicating
your use with quotation
marks is a form of plagiarism!
Without the quotation marks,
you are suggesting that you
are the passage’s author. It’s
okay ( and even encouraged)
to quote in a research paper!
But you MUST use quotation
marks to show your readers
that you are including words
written by another writer.
Example #5

Instead of presenting
the material as a
quotation, you
paraphrase most of
the paragraph, finding
synonyms that fit
some of the writer’s
words and plugging
them into the original
sentence structure. Is
this plagiarism?
Example #5

Instead of presenting
the material as a
quotation, you
paraphrase most of
the paragraph, finding
synonyms that fit
some of the writer’s
words and plugging
them into the original
sentence structure. Is
this plagiarism?
Yes! Even if you change
SOME of the language, you
are keeping the sentence
structures, merely plugging in
synonyms… If you can’t do a
genuine paraphrase (truly put
the material into your own
words), I recommend
presenting it as a quotation…
Remember, quotations are
allowed in research papers,
as long as you present them
correctly!
Review: Cite your source if you…



Base your own argument on an idea that you read about
in someone else’s work (Example #3). Use a signal
sentence, paraphrase, and entry in your Works Cited
page.
Paraphrase another writer’s language (put the ideas into
your own words) in your paper. Here, you would need to
acknowledge your debt in a parenthetical citation (and
probably a signal sentence) and an entry in the Works
Cited page.
Use another writer’s exact language (Examples 2, 4, and
5). You need a parenthetical citation AND quotation
marks around the section(s) that you are quoting as well
as Works Cited entry.
WHY we cite
WHY we cite
And, no, the answer
isn’t to make your life
more complicated!!!
Let’s say that you’ve written an essay
about Iago’s character, something
that interests me very much… As I
read your essay, I find myself very
interested in one of your sources…
I decide to go to the
library and track
down the interesting
articles that you’ve
used in your own
discussion……
The entries on your Works Cited
page tell me exactly where to find the
sources! For instance, I know the
volume, page numbers, and
publication dates for journal articles,
the author and title (and publisher
and publication date) of the books
that you have used, as well as the
urls for any internet sources… If I
decide to do further reading on your
topic, you have provided me with the
information to do so!
Bibliography vs. Works Cited

A bibliography is a
list of sources on a
particular topic. I
could provide you
with a bibliography
on Othello, for
example, that would
list books, journal
articles, and other
material on the play.

A Works Cited page
lists only the materials
cited (quoted or
paraphrased) in your
essay. Instead of a
list of sources on the
topic, it is a list of
sources CITED in
your essay.
Bibliography vs. Works Cited

A bibliography is a

list of sources on a
particular
topic.
I end
What
if I don’t
actually
could
provide
you
up
using
a source
that I
withina my
bibliography
read
paper (in other
on Othello,
words,
I don’tfor
quote it or
paraphrase
any of
it), but I
example, that
would
think
it did influence
list books,
journal my
thinking
theother
topic?
articles,on
and
material on the play.
A Works Cited page
lists only the materials
cited (quoted or
paraphrased) in your
essay. Instead of a
list of sources on the
topic, it is a list of
sources CITED in
your essay.
Works Cited vs Works
Consulted

List only the
works that you
CITE in the paper
(quote or
paraphrase) in
the Works Cited
page.

Include a separate
Works Consulted
page if you
“consulted” (i.e. read)
materials that you
believe influenced
your ideas but not in
such a way that you
include them directly
in the paper.
MLA Format vs. APA Format

Most disciplines in the
humanities use MLA
(Modern Language
Association) format for
documentation. Since
English departments
are usually given the
responsibility for
teaching
documentation, most
students learn this
format first.

APA (American
Psychological
Association) format is
preferred by the
social sciences. One
difference: instead of
a “Works Cited”
page, you list sources
on a page titled
“References.”
MLA Format vs. APA Format

Each academic
Most disciplines
in thediscipline requires a
 APA (American
standard
method of documentation
humanities
use MLA
Psychological
the reason explained
earlier (so
(ModernforLanguage
Association)
format is
that scholars
have access
to
Association)
format for
interestingSince
sources).preferred
Althoughby
thethe
documentation.
differ slightly,
all include
social
sciences. One
English formats
departments
citations
of the instead of
are usually
givenwithin
the the body
difference:
paper as
of sources at
responsibility
forwell as a list
a “Works Cited”
the
paper’s
end.
teaching
page, you list sources
documentation, most
on a page titled
students learn this
“References.”
format first.
MLAInFormat
vs.
APA
Format
future classes,
you’ll
want to
find

out whichin
method
Most disciplines
the of documentation
 APA (American
youruse
professor
humanities
MLA (and the discipline)
Psychological
The information
is the
(Modernprefers…
Language
same,format
but thefor
way that
you presentformat is
Association)
Association)
this information differs
somewhat
preferred
by the
documentation.
Since
(in ways that may seem
social sciences. One
English departments
inconsequential…): keep in mind
are usually
given the
difference:
instead of
that the reason for these
differences
responsibility
a has
“Works
Cited”
is that for
each discipline
identified
teachingits own standard method…
page, you list sources
documentation, most
on a page titled
students learn this
“References.”
format first.
SPECIAL PROBLEMS
This section is for problems that
students have asked about in
the past… If you encounter
another problem, please email me.
SPECIAL PROBLEMS
For “how-to” cite, I suggest that
you check out the section on
documentation in your
textbook, which shows you
how to set up parenthetical
citations and Works Cited
page entries. You will also find
examples of student essays
involving research in our
text… Take advantage of all of
these models!
Problem 1: Long passage…

I’m writing about
race in Othello, and I
have found a lot of
relevant background
information about
Moors. I want to
include this material,
but I’m not sure how
to do so effectively.
What should I do?
Problem 1: Long Passage
Solution: Present the material as a paraphrase,
perhaps in one long paragraph (or series of paras).
Be sure to BEGIN with a signal sentence, “signalling”
your readers that you are working with source
material.
In her book Moors in Renaissance Europe, Sandra
Johnson describes how a man like Othello could
have come to Venice. She writes that Moors often
rose to positions of leadership… (12-15).
By beginning with a signal sentence, you show your
readers where you end and the source begins; the
page numbers tell us that you are paraphrasing or
summarizing material found on these pages in the
source.
Problem 2: Long passage…
which I can’t paraphrase…

Okay, I’m trying to
paraphrase the long
passage, but I’m
overwhelmed. What
if I can’t find another
word for some of the
words she uses? Do
I have to find another
word for Moor?
Help!
Problem 2: Including some quoted
material in your paraphrase
Solution 1: First of all, no, you don’t need to
find another word for “Moor!” When you
summarize or paraphrase, you will certainly
need to use some of the same words as your
source. If you use a striking phrase, or a
word that stands out, then you do need to
acknowledge that the word choice was not
your own. You can include some quotes in
your paraphrase…
For example,
Problem 2: Including some quoted
material in your paraphrase
In his book Ethiops Painted White, Anthony Barthelmy
goes so far as to label Iago the “internal playwright”
(161) of the play; he is the one who casts Othello in
the role of cuckold and Desdemona – the honest wife
– in the role of adulteress.
Because I thought “internal playwright” was so key to
Barthelmy’s point, and impossible to paraphrase, I
used quotation marks to show that this phrase (or
term, or word choice) was not mine, but his.
Problem 2: Long passage…
which I can’t paraphrase… …
Solution 2: Let’s say that the prospect of
paraphrasing or summarizing the material
really does overwhelm you. Although you
don’t want your paper to become one string
of long quotations, if you feel that the material
is important, and you feel that something
would be lost if you paraphrased it, present it
as a long quotation!
Just make sure that you…
Problem 2: Long passage…
which I can’t paraphrase… …
1.
Begin the paragraph with a signal sentence. (In his
book, Derek Jones discusses the treatment of
women during the Renaissance:) [Note that I have
used a colon to set up the quotation).
2.
Indent the quotation, since it will be longer than one
line. (See the handout for example of long
indented quotation).
3.
Conclude the paragraph with some commentary of
your own (maybe pull something out of the quote
that you can connect to the play). Never, ever
present a long quotation as your entire paragraph!
Always begin or end with your own sentence(s)!
Problem 3: Partial quote…
One of my sources has
a great paragraph,
and I want to include
the first two
sentences of it and
the last sentence as
a quote, but the
middle part doesn’t
go with my topic. Do
I have to quote the
entire thing?
Problem 3: Partial quote…
Solution: This one is easy! Use an ellipsis (. . . ) to
indicate that you’ve omitted part of the original
quotation. (You’ll find an example of this in my
handout, but here’s a shortened version.)
Dauber writes:
Othello reads Desdemona as a figure of heavenly
grace. . . Othello keeps nothing in reserve, his faith
riding on Desdemona alone. (131)
The ellipsis (. . . ) tells the reader that something (a
word, a sentence, many sentences?) has been left
out here…
Problem 4: Great quote from
another source…
I’ve found a quotation that I
REALLY want to include
in my paper, but it
happens to be a
quotation that my source
is quoting… What
should I do? Do I credit
the original source, or do
I credit the source that I
found the quotation in?
Problem 4: Great quote from
another source…
Solution: Ideally, you could check the source’s
Works Cited page and locate the original
source yourself… (Think about it: if that
quotation is so great, chances are the entire
article or book would be useful!) I know from
my own experience, however, that it isn’t
always possible to track down these sources,
so here’s the next best solution…
Problem 4
Solution: the (qtd. in --) solution!
You’ll find information about quoting a quotation from one of
your sources in any good handbook… Present the
quotation just as you would any other, but make sure that
you name the author of the ORIGINAL work and its title (in
other words, the author of the quotation) in your signal
sentence.
Then, in your parenthetical citation, you’ll include information
about the source where you FOUND the quotation. Type
(qtd. in Baldwin 108). “qtd in” tells us that the quotation
was quoted in Baldwin on page 108. In other words, if I
flipped to your Works Cited page and looked for Baldwin, I
would find the work where you found the original
quotation.
Problem 5: Internet
(electronic) sources
How do I quote from
sources that I’ve
found on the
Internet?
Problem 5: Internet sources
Solution: Check a recent handbook for information on
how to document internet sources. Because the
internet is so new, the way that we document these
sources is still evolving… Our text gives instructions
for electronic sources on pages 1483-1484. Because
some internet sources don’t list authors or titles, it
can be challenging. Make sure you follow the book’s
format as closely as possible, and ALWAYS include
the url (address) for the cite as well as the date of
your visit to the site!
These details may seem tedious or
overwhelming at first, but they’re really not
that complicated… Remember that you
must always list a source used (either as a
direct quotation, a paraphrase, or as an idea
that influenced your thinking) in your Works
Cited list, and you must always include a
parenthetical citation within the paper to
give credit to those sources where relevant.
Good luck on your own essay!