Citing Sources in your Blog (In-Text Citations)

Citing Sources in your Blog

By CELI OLIVETO

Multiple Choice

What does to cite something mean?

• to give credit to a source of information

• to tell someone what you're thinking

• to give an opinion about a fact

• to use descriptive language when arguing a point

Citation means giving credit to the source of your information!

Are you guilty of CTRL C + CTRL V? Are you confused when your teacher says “Cite textual evidence?" That's ok! This lesson should help.

What is MLA? 

MLA stands for the Modern Language Association

They distribute a guide for how to cite information in research​

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Multiple Choice

Why should we learn how to cite information?

• to give our opinion

• to get the answers right

• to avoid plagiarism

• to show our intelligence

What does it mean to cite? 

Citing a source means giving credit to the source of your information.

 

We do this so that we don’t plagiarize.

Multiple Choice

Can you plagiarize and not know it?

• No, it's always intentional

• Yes, you can use information and not know you're not giving them credit.

Plagiarism is when you intentionally or unintentionally use other people’s information as your own. 

​

We cite information so that we can retrace steps in research and see if your evidence actually makes your claim make sense.

​This is a single document located at the end of your blog post that lists the locations of your sources.

Works-Cited Page

​This could include a short quote from your source or a paraphrase in your own words.

In-text citations

When you use the words or ideas of another person in your paper, you most document the source in two places, within the text of the paper as well as on the Works Cited page.

Rewording the information in your own words. You still need to give credit to the author or website! ​

Paraphrase

​Quoting a short piece of text from the website that you're using as evidence word for word using quotation marks.

​Quote from your source

In-Text Citations (Parenthetical Citations)

Multiple Choice

What are parenthetical citations also called?

• paraphrased quotes

• works-cited page

• in-text citations

• plagarism

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the document located at the end of your blog post that will tell someone where you found your evidence?

• works cited page

• in-text citation

• parenthetical citation

• author stand-point

In-Text Citations

Example: Many Citizens are against Indian related mascots and on Saturday  “a major sector of the United Church of Christ voted to urge its 40,000 members to boycott the Redskin team” (White 2).

Multiple Choice

How do you know the text pulled from a source versus the author's own writing?

Example: Many Citizens are against Indian related mascots and on Saturday  “a major sector of the United Church of Christ voted to urge its 40,000 members to boycott the Redskin team” (White 2).

• parentheses

• quotation marks

• the word "mascots"

• the author located outside of the parenthesis

When quoting information from the web...

​If there is no author listed on the website, which is possible, put the title of the website in quotation marks inside of parenthesis.

​("Title of the Website").

​("Best ATV Trails").

When quoting information from the web...

​If the website name is really long, just use a shortened version. For example, "Top Ten ATV Trails in the Appalachian Region" could be shortened to...

​("Top Ten ATV Trails").

When quoting information from the web...

​If there is an author listed, put their last name inside of parenthesis.

​(Author last name).

​(Smith).

Multiple Choice

Where does the period go in relationship to the parenthesis?

• (Smith).

• (Smith.)

• Smith. ()

• . (Smith)

Multiple Choice

What should you put in your blog if you can't find an author's name listed?

• the copyright date

• the title of the website

• the title of the website in quotes

• make up an author

Examples of how to use research in your own writing.

Let's say that you are writing a blog on the history of basketball. ​

Subject | Subject

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Examples of how to use research in your own writing.

You find a great source from the Encyclopedia Britanica on the founder of the sport.

Subject | Subject

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Examples of how to use research in your own writing.

One way to introduce the information is to use a signal phrase.

​

This is a short phrase that lets the reader know that you're going to lay down some info from another source. ​

Subject | Subject

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Examples of how to use research in your own writing.

Some example signal phrases could start out with...

​

• According to name of the website, "quote."

• ​The author, author name, a respected scientist in the field, says that, "quote"

• Author name, an avid fly-fisherman and adventuerer, advocates for, "quote." ​

​

Examples of how to use research in your own writing.

RE-WRITING INFORMATION

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica the only sport to ever be invented in the United States was basketball. It was created by James Naismith, a physical education teacher, who used peach baskets as goals (Donald).​

Subject | Subject

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Examples of how to use research in your own writing.

DIRECTLY QUOTING INFORMATION

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “...basketball was invented by James Naismith...” The article goes on to explain that,  “for that first game of basketball in 1891, Naismith used as goals two half-bushel peach baskets, which gave the sport its name” (Donald).

Subject | Subject

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When you quote material from a website...

• Keep it short! No more than one sentence or even a couple of words at a time!

• Author's last name in parenthesis inside the period

• Website name in parenthesis inside of the period if no author

• If you look something up and re-write it, give the website credit ​

Even though quoting may seem easier...

LONGER DOES NOT MEAN BETTER

Keep it short! Less than one sentence! We want to read YOUR words!

​

If you take a piece of a sentence (even better) use elipsis ... to indicate that you cut something out. ​

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Even though quoting may seem easier...

LONGER DOES NOT MEAN BETTER

Example ellipse

​

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “...basketball was invented by James Naismith...”

​Look how nice and short! ​

Now, let's practice in-text citations. ​

​

Awesome!

​

Multiple Choice

If you can't find the author listed, how should you cite the information from the website?

• use the title of the website as a whole

• use the title of the individual webpage that you're reading

• skip it

• make up an author's name to use

Multiple Choice

You looked up a website called Fishing World and read a page titled "Top 10 Places to Fish with your Family." It was written by Susan Burns and last updated on May 7, 2019. How would you cite this source in your blog?

• (Fishing World).

• (Burns).

• (Susan Burns).

• ("Top 10 Places to Fish with your Family").

Multiple Choice

You looked up a website called Artist's Journey and read a page titled "Drawing Self Portraits." It has no author, but was last updated on May 9, 2010. How would you cite this source in your blog?

• (Artist's Journey).

• (No Name).

• (May 9, 2010).

• ("Drawing Self-Portraits").

Multiple Choice

You looked up a website called Baseball: History and Heritage and read a page titled "Jackie Robinson: American Icon." It was written by Dr. Scott Carlile and only has a copyright date. How would you cite this source in your blog?

• (Baseball: History and Heritage).

• (Dr. Scott Carlile).

• (Carlile).

• ("Jackie Robinson").

Multiple Choice

If the title of the website is long, what should you do to cite the source in-text?

• Leave it as it and do not change it

• list the name of the website instead

• list the author's name instead

• shorten it to a couple of key words

Multiple Choice

When you quote material, what should you surround the source's words with to let the reader know that these are not your own words?

• parenthesis

• periods

• elipsis

• quotation marks

Multiple Choice

If you want to cut out information from a part that you are reading online, you should use ---- to show the reader that something has been removed.

• elipsis

• periods

• parenthesis

• quotation marks

Fill in the Blank

How would you show the information below is a quote?

Punctuate the information below as a quoted sentence and include the in-text citation.

Students say that having access to a cell-phone helps them retain information better than without one.

Source: www.studentgrowth.org "Tech in the Classroom" by Albert Smith Copyright 2015