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Here are a couple ways you can help your reader understand your documentation:
Let the reader know when you begin borrowing from a source by introducing a quotation or a paraphrase with the name of your authority (e.g., Snyder disagrees. In his article on Brig. Gen. Smedley D. Butler, Snyder notes that Butler was "the only Marine Corps officer to ever win two medals of honor" (22).)
Enclose within quotation marks all quoted material--a key word, a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph (see above).
Make certain that paraphrased material has been rewritten into your own language and writing style--otherwise, just quote the material verbatim.
Provide a bibliography entry on your Works Cited page
for every source you cite in your paper.
Common knowledge exceptions exist because you and your reader share a common perception on a subject. For example, since you are a student at ECU, you need not cite the fact that the North Carolina's Outer Banks are east of the mainland (duh!) because your ECU audience will be knowledgeable of North Carolina geography.
But remember that common knowledge is a matter of audience and context. Consider these two examples:
President George Bush launched the Iraqi Freedom attack with the support of some allies.
President Bush demonstrated great mastery in his diplomatic unification of a politically diverse group of allies.
The first probably doesn't need any documentation, but the farther we move in history from that time and place, the more likely will be the need for documentation. So at some point in time (2010, 2015, or 20??), ideas and words take directly from a source, will show the evidence:
President Bush demonstrated great mastery in his "diplomatic unification" of a "politically diverse group" of allies (Smith 134).
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Created August 25, 2005 Updated |