Citing Sources: Why & How to Do It

Summary

This video emphasizes the importance of citing sources in research projects. It explains that sources, whether found online, in print, or through interviews, are someone's intellectual property and must be credited. The video covers why citations are necessary to avoid plagiarism, strengthen arguments, and help readers locate sources. It also introduces how to properly cite using in-text citations and a bibliography or works cited list. Tools like Citation Maker simplify the citation process, ensuring compliance with citation rules. Overall, it stresses the importance of properly documenting sources in any research work.

Takeaways

• 📚 You need to cite your sources when doing research for papers or projects.
• 🌐 Sources can be in any format—print, online, images, or even conversations.
• 🧠 Intellectual property belongs to the person who created it, so always give credit.
• ❗ Using someone else's information without citing is called plagiarism.
• 🔍 Citing sources helps readers find the information you used in your work.
• 💡 Proper citation strengthens your argument by showing you used expert information.
• 📖 Citations involve providing details such as the author, title, publisher, and date.
• 💻 For online sources, include additional information like the web page title and URL.
• 📝 In-text citations include the author's last name and page number in parentheses.
• 📑 A bibliography or works cited page should list all sources in alphabetical order.

Q & A

What is the importance of citing sources in a research paper or project?

Citing sources gives credit to the original creators of the information and ensures that you do not claim others' intellectual property as your own. It also helps your readers find the sources and strengthens your argument by showing you relied on expert information.

Does the format or type of source matter when citing in research?

No, the format or type of source does not matter. Whether it’s in print, online, an image, a conversation, or a video, all sources must be cited if they are used in your research.

What is considered intellectual property in the context of citing sources?

Intellectual property refers to the original work created by someone, such as books, articles, music, or websites. These works belong to the person who created them and must be credited if used.

Why is it important to cite sources even if the information is freely available online?

Even if information is free, it still belongs to the creator. Citing acknowledges the source of the information and prevents plagiarism, which is using someone else's work without giving them credit.

What are the two main reasons to cite sources in a research paper?

The two main reasons are: 1) to give credit to the original author and avoid plagiarism, and 2) to provide the reader with the opportunity to locate the original sources for further research.

What is in-text citation, and how is it used?

In-text citation is a method used to credit a source directly within the body of the paper. It includes the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses, helping the reader identify where specific information came from.

What information is required to properly cite a book in a bibliography?

To cite a book, you need the author's name, the complete title of the book, the publisher, and the publication date.

What additional details are needed when citing an internet source?

When citing an internet source, you need to include the title of the web page and the URL, in addition to the other standard citation details.

What is the difference between a bibliography and in-text citation?

An in-text citation is used within the body of the paper to credit a specific source for a particular idea or quote. A bibliography (or works cited) is a full list at the end of the paper containing all the sources used, providing complete information for each one.

What tool can help students create citations easily, according to the video?

The video mentions Citation Maker on OSLIS as a tool that can help students create citations and works cited lists without needing to memorize the citation rules.