Citation Day Tips - 2012

Making the Best Use of Resource Info in Your

Thesis Paper

Your Thesis Paper

Starting with the major work(s) by your chosen author, analyze how your author’s life & vision

for the future is seen in his/her writing. Key points may include characters,

locations/settings, ideas/philosophies, etc.

Support Your Research

Use primary sources (how many?) Use secondary sources Use both web (3) & print (5) sources

Primary Sources

Support Your Thesis/Opinion Show Understanding of the Author Discuss the Time Period of the Author

Secondary Sources

Support Your Thesis/Opinion Show Authorities Agree

Authoritative Secondary Sources

Use only “authoritative” sources Authoritative = trustworthy or acclaimed Use your web eval sheets for each website!!! Avoid cheat sites, “study” sites, encyclopedias, or dictionaries – NO TERTIARY!

Minimum 8 Quotes!

That means at leasts8 different sources --

the more primary the better!

Citations

REMEMBER

MLA RULE:

Sources only count if you cite -- quote, paraphrase, summarize -- from

them in your paper!

Common Knowledge Rule

You must cite anything you take from another source as long as it is not

COMMON KNOWLEDGE!

(Examples: birth dates, death dates, kids’ names)

Paraphrases & Summaries

In addition to direct quotes, you should cite paraphrases or summaries

from books or the internet!

MLA Citations

MLA demands in-text citations that reference your Works Cited page.

Your citation in the papers needs to direct the reader to the proper source as listed at

the end of your thesis paper!

MLA Update 20092009 changes in MLA:

No more Underlining (only use italics)

Adds Publication Medium (e.g. Print, Web, etc.)

New Abbreviations (e.g. “N.p.” for “no publisher given”)

Your Instructor Knows Best#1 Rule for any formatting style is …

ALWAYSFollow your

instructor’s guidelines!

MLA Guidelines

Use italics for titles of books, magazines,

newspapers & other long works

Quotation marks for short stories, short poems,

magazine or newspaper articles

Title Page Standard MLA format calls for no Title page For experience, however, I want you to create one. See example – include title, photo/graphic of your author & info as seen in example On 1st text page of paper, center your title, double space & begin your 1st paragraph. Be sure to use header with your last name & page 1!

MLA Basic Rule

To mark material that you have found in other sources, use parentheses and author’s name with page # at the end of your sentence or quote. Period is

AFTER the closing parenthesis.

MLA Basic Rule

The author’s name can be omitted if it has already been included in the sentence.

Period is AFTER the closing parenthesis.

MLA Basic Rule

If you are using multiple works by the same author, you will need to include the title of the work either in your sentence

or in the citation.

Short/Long Quote Size

“Short quotes” are handled by including in the sentence itself. MLA rule is that a “long quote” is “4 or more lines” of quoted material. Long quotes

receive special formatting.

Long Quote Example

Long Quote Formatting

“Long quotes” are handled in block text format. Double indent the text. Don’t use quote marks or

indent first line. Text goes all the way to right margin. Punctuate at the end of the sentence, not

after the parenthetical citation.

REMEMBER

You will need one “long quote”

in the body of your paper for

this thesis paper.

Mistakes in the Quote?

Quotes are supposed to be the exact words from the source. But you don’t want to get marked

down if there were mistakes in the original. Be sure to know how to use the (sic) rule!

(sic) Rule

If there is a typo or bad grammar that you think your teacher will mark you down for, type the

Latin word sic in parentheses next to the problem word or section. That means this was the way it

was found in the original source.

Keeping Poetic Lines “Poetic”

Poetry depends on meter and rhyme. Sometimes poetic lines omit

punctuation. To keep poetic lines intact, use the / to mark where lines split or end.

Work Cited Page Basics

For Print SourcesYou NEED…

author, title, (editor/translator) city, publisher, copyright date

Work Cited Page Basics

For Web SourcesYou NEED… author, title, website, copyright date, & access date. MLA 2009 makes URL

optional. Mr. Payne wants you to include…

Double-space Works Cited entries!

MLA format calls for everything to be double-spaced!

NEVER double double-space! (& check your MS Word default!)

Alpha Order for Works Cited Entries!

MLA format demands all sources are sorted alphabetically by author’s last name. If no author is listed, use first

important word of title.

NEVER number your sources or separate print & web sources!

Works Cited Example Page

REMEMBER

MLA is a universal standard - you can find it in your student handbook, on-line on the FVL English

Dept web page and most university web sites! Purdue’s OWL site is one of best -

Outlines & Title Pages

For this thesis paper, you will be expected to include a final outline as well as a title page.

NOTE: These pages do not count in your 6-7 page total!

Outline Reminders

Everything is double-spaced! (No double-doublespace!) Punctuate all book titles/short stories/articles This page has no header or number (see HE web example) Formatting = I. > A. > 1. > a. > i. NOTE: Turn off MS Word auto-formatting feature!

Outline Example Page

Need More Help?

Check outThese

HelpfulResources

on theHE Web Page

under “Long Range

Assignments”!

Review of MLA Paper Setup Type on white 8.5” x 11” paper

Double-space everything – NO Double-doublespace!

Use 12 pt. Times New Roman font (or similar font)

Leave only one space after punctuation

Set all margins to 1 inch on all sides

Header with last name & page # in upper right corner

Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch