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.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Importance of Citing Sources

This paragraph introduces the concept of citing sources when conducting research. It explains that citing is necessary regardless of the type of source, whether it is online, in print, an image, or even a conversation. The information you use belongs to its creator, making it their intellectual property, which must be acknowledged. It emphasizes that using someone else's work without giving credit is considered plagiarism. Additionally, citing sources allows others to find the same materials and lends credibility to your work, proving that you did thorough research.

05:01

📝 How to Cite a Source

This paragraph explains the process of citing a source, which involves recording specific details that will help others locate it. The example used is a book titled *The Honey Bee's Hive*, where key information such as the author, title, publisher, and publication date must be noted. For online sources, additional information like the web page title and URL is required. All the details recorded for one source form a citation, and the paragraph prepares the reader for further discussion on how to integrate these citations into their work.

🔖 In-Text Citations and Their Importance

This section explains in-text citations, a method used to give credit to specific ideas or quotations directly within a paper. It uses an example from a research paper on honey bees to demonstrate how to cite a quote using the author's last name and page number in parentheses. The paragraph emphasizes that in-text citations are necessary for ensuring that readers know where specific information came from, and that they must be included for every research project.

📑 Creating a Bibliography or Works Cited List

This paragraph describes the need for an alphabetized list of all sources used in research, referred to as a bibliography or works cited. It explains that while citations might be provided at the end of an article or online, researchers will often need to create their own. The paragraph mentions that there are established rules for structuring citations and that a tool like Citation Maker on OSLIS can simplify the process, making it easier to create accurate citations and works cited lists without memorizing complex rules.

✔️ Citation Maker: Simplifying the Process

This paragraph highlights how Citation Maker, a tool on OSLIS, can simplify the process of citing sources. It reiterates the importance of citing sources correctly and encourages users to use Citation Maker for guidance. The paragraph ends with a reminder to 'do it right, cite!' and invites the reader to explore OSLIS for more information about the research process. It also credits Bearport Publishing for allowing the use of their book in the video, and concludes with the OSLIS slogan: 'Learn to Research. Research to Learn.'

Keywords

💡Cite

To cite means to give credit to the original creator of information or ideas used in your work. It involves documenting the source so that others can find it. In the video, citing is emphasized as a way to avoid plagiarism and acknowledge intellectual property.

💡Source

A source is any material from which you gather information for your research, including books, articles, websites, interviews, or charts. The video explains that sources are diverse and can be in print, online, or even a conversation, all of which need to be properly cited.

💡Intellectual Property

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, such as ideas, writings, and inventions, which are owned by their creators. The video stresses that when using someone else's intellectual property, like a book or an article, you must cite it to give credit.

💡Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's work or ideas without giving proper credit, making it appear as your own. The video highlights that citing sources prevents plagiarism by acknowledging the original creator’s contributions.

💡In-text Citation

In-text citation is a brief reference in the body of your work that points to the full citation in your bibliography. It usually includes the author’s last name and page number. The video gives an example of an in-text citation using a quote from a book, illustrating how to properly include such citations.

💡Bibliography

A bibliography is a list of all the sources you used in your research, usually placed at the end of your paper. The video refers to it as a 'works cited' list and emphasizes its importance in helping readers locate the original sources you used.

💡Citation Maker

Citation Maker is a tool mentioned in the video that helps users create citations automatically. It simplifies the process of following citation rules, making it easier to correctly document sources without memorizing complex formats.

💡Documentation

Documentation in research refers to the act of recording the details of sources to give credit and allow others to find them. The video emphasizes the need for proper documentation of all materials used in your work to avoid plagiarism and build credibility.

💡Authority

Authority in research means the credibility that comes from using reliable and expert sources. The video points out that citing authoritative sources strengthens your arguments, showing that your work is backed by expert knowledge.

💡URL

A URL is the web address of an online source. The video explains that when citing an internet source, you need to include the URL along with other details like the title of the webpage to allow readers to access the same material online.

Highlights

Citing your sources is essential in any research to give credit to the original creators of the ideas.

Sources can include print materials, online resources, images, conversations, and copyrighted or non-copyrighted materials.

All forms of intellectual property, regardless of how they are accessed, must be cited to avoid plagiarism.

Citing helps others trace your sources for further research and enhances the credibility of your work.

Citations provide authority to your arguments, demonstrating that your research is backed by expert knowledge.

In-text citations include the author’s last name and page number, and they acknowledge specific ideas or quotations used.

A bibliography or works cited list is a comprehensive, alphabetized collection of all sources used in a research project.

Internet sources require additional citation details, including the title of the webpage and the URL.

Using citation tools like Citation Maker helps simplify the process of formatting citations correctly.

A good citation must include the author’s name, the title of the source, the publisher, and the publication date.

Proper citations acknowledge the intellectual property of others and help avoid plagiarism.

Plagiarism occurs when information is used from other people without crediting them.

Citing sources also assists readers in locating those sources to learn more about the topic.

Citing sources correctly is important for both ethical reasons and to strengthen your research.

OSLIS offers resources to guide researchers through the citation process and the overall research process.

Transcripts

[MUSIC PLAYING]

When you do research for a paper or project,

you need to cite, or document, your sources.

Your sources are the materials in which you found

the information that you used.

It does not matter what type of source it is.

It can be in print or online.

It can be an image or a conversation.

It can be copyrighted or not.

Some examples of sources are magazines, newspapers, books,

interviews, music, web sites, videos, charts or graphs.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

All of these sources were created by someone.

Each work belongs to the person who created it.

The work is that person's intellectual property.

When you find a useful bit of information,

you may be thinking, wait, I found this on the Internet.

It was free.

Why do I need to cite it?

Remember, it does not matter where you got the information.

It does not matter if you paid for it or not.

It does matter that you're using someone else's

intellectual property.

That's why you always have to document your sources.

When you document your sources, you

give credit to the person whose ideas you used.

You need to give credit when you use an author's exact words

and when you summarize or rewrite their ideas.

Not giving credit makes it seem like the ideas are your own.

If someone used your work, you'd want to get credit for it, too.

Using information from other people without crediting them

is called plagiarism.

Another reason to cite is to allow your reader

to find your sources for their own use.

For example, they may want to read

one of your sources to learn even more about the topic.

Finally, citing sources lends authority to your work

and lets your teachers know that you did your research.

Showing that you got your ideas from experts

makes your argument or case stronger.

So now that you know you need to cite your sources,

let's find out how to do it.

To cite means to identify the sources you used in your work.

Basically you write down the details

that will help someone else find the source.

For example, if you're using the book, The Honey Bee's Hive,

you'll need to record, or write down,

the following details from the title page

and the verso, or back of the title page:

The author --

Joyce Markovics; the complete title --

The Honey Bee's Hive: A Thriving City; the publisher --

Bearport Publishing; and the publication date --

2010.

For Internet sources, you'll need

to include additional information such as the title

of the web page and the URL.

For example, if you used information

from this National Geographic Kids web site,

the title of the web page is "10 Facts About Honey Bees!"

And, this is the URL.

All of the details for one source are called a citation.

There are two places where you might include citations

in your paper.

Your teacher may require you to give

credit for specific ideas and quotations within your paper.

This is called in-text citation, and it

lists the author's last name and the page

number where the information was found in the source.

Let's take a look at this example from a research paper

that uses a quote from the book, The Honey Bee's Hive,

by Joyce Markovics:

It takes billions of bees to pollinate

California's almond crop each year,

which is a tremendous job to manage.

In the words of Joe Traynor, a beekeeper,

"You're really relieved when it's all over" (Markovics 26).

Notice the in-text citation.

It includes the author's last name --

Markovics, and the page number of the quote --

26, enclosed in parentheses.

For any research project, you must always

include an alphabetized list of all of the sources you used.

This list is called a bibliography or works cited,

and it provides complete information for each source.

Sometimes you may find a citation

at the end of an article that you found in a library database

or in an online encyclopedia, but most of the time

you'll need to make your own citations.

There are rules for creating proper citations, like what

source details must be included and what order to put them in.

Citation Maker on OSLIS will help you create your citations

and your works cited list.

That way, you don't have to memorize the complicated rules.

Citation Maker makes it easy.

It is important to cite the sources

you use in your research.

Do it right.

Cite!

For specific examples, and for more information

about this topic and the entire research process,

explore OSLIS.

Thank you to Bearport Publishing for granting permission

to use their book in this video.

OSLIS -- Learn to Research.

Research to Learn.