Using a Source
Using a source means putting someone else’s words or thoughts in your paper, whether you quote or paraphrase. Most of your work should be your own ideas and words. Use sources for background and for opinions that differ from your own (so that you can disagree or add to what they say), but don’t fill up all of your pages with the ideas of other people. All but a few sentences should be your own thoughts.
Citing a Source
Citing a source means telling the reader who authored the outside information and where you found it. Your citation should point the reader to the correct entry on the Works Cited using MLA style.
In-Text Citation
When quoting or referring to an specific part of a source, you will need to provide the author's last name and a page number. If you mention the author's name in the sentence, you only need the page number. If you are using a comic that does not provide page numbers, you will need the issue number and then you will need to count from 1 to get the page number of THAT issue.
The look of humility on Batman's face when he says, “But most importantly, it's the only way YOU’LL ever really trust me” makes me actually want to trust him (Murphy and Hollingsworth, Issue 8, 28).
If you don't have to say which issue, and the author was just one person, the citation would look like this: (Murphy 28).
Using a Quote (exact words of the source)
- State Rep. Roger Williams has recently argued that alcohol sales restrictions on Sunday in Georgia promote economic inequality: "It is unfair for the state to create an uneven playing field where some types of business are allowed to profit from Sunday sales while others are not."
- According to State Rep. Roger Williams, "It is unfair for the state to create an uneven playing field where some types of business are allowed to profit from Sunday sales while others are not."
- State Rep. Roger Williams has argued that "It is unfair for the state to create an uneven playing field where some types of business are allowed to profit from Sunday sales while others are not."
- The argument that the state should not "create an uneven playing field where some types of business are allowed to profit from Sunday sales while others are not" implies that alcohol should not be treated differently from other products (Williams).
- The attendance policy at Gainesville State College is clearly stated in the catalog: "Attendance at all scheduled classes is expected. The individual instructor's 'Absence Policy' is specified on the course syllabus. Questions regarding an instructor's attendance/absence policy should be directed to the instructor."
- The attendance policy in the GSC catalog vaguely states that "Attendance at all scheduled classes is expected. The individual instructor's 'Absence Policy' is specified on the course syllabus. Questions regarding an instructor's attendance/absence policy should be directed to the instructor."
- State Rep. Roger Williams has recently argued that alcohol sales restrictions on Sunday in Georgia unfairly handicap businesses who deal exclusively in alcohol.
- According to State Rep. Roger Williams, alcohol sales restrictions on Sunday in Georgia unfairly handicap businesses who deal exclusively in alcohol.
- The argument that alcohol sales restrictions on Sunday in Georgia unfairly handicap businesses who deal exclusively in alcohol implies that alcohol should not be treated differently from other products (Williams).
- According to Michael Smith, "insert quote" (45).
- Michael Smith argues that "insert quote" (45).
- In an attempt to define financial wisdom for college students, Michael Smith writes, "insert quote" (45).
