6. Citing Your Work

We will use APA format in citing papers and in preparing the annotated bibliography.

Why do we cite the works of others?

• Honor property rights
• Enable others to replicate our research
• Avoid plagiarism

We are able to use the copyrighted works of others in our own work because of the doctrine of fair use, which allows us to use or reference a copyrighted work “for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research.”

In addition, our references allow others to build upon our work. This is why it is critical that citations contain all relevant information needed to access that material.

Finally, proper citation prevents plagiarism: using the ideas or words of another person as though they were your own. Plagiarism is ethically and legally wrong. For more information, see the University of Washington policy on academic honesty.

How to Document A Source

• Provide the name of the source (author, organization, and/or publication) when you use external material in your paper. This makes it clear to the reader that the ideas originate elsewhere. What makes it clear that the citation has ended is the parenthetical note.
• Enclose all quoted material within quotation marks. If you are quoting more than a sentence (or two), set the quoted material off by indenting it (blockquotes).
• When you are paraphrasing material, be sure the words are your own.
• Create an annotated bibliographic entry for every source in your paper.

Next: The Bibliography

Prior: 5. Polishing the Paper

Next: 7. The Bibliography

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