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ENG 120 Joshi fall 2023

Researching subcultures for an autoethnography essay

Scholarly Conversation Requires Identifing Others' Ideas and Giving Credit

Any citation you provide should enable your reader to find that source. Make sure your citation gives the reader the information he or she needs to find the source you used.

  • Authors whose work you cite must be given credit.
  • Your professors want to make sure you're using reputable, credible sources.
  • If people want to examine the data you use, they need to know where to find it.
  • If people want to trace the origins of your argument, they need to know where your ideas come from.
  • If you don't cite your sources, you could be accused of plagiarism. 

Why is Citing Sources so Complicated?

Citing the sources of information you used is not really hard; it just takes a bit of time. There are many different citation styles, but most students need to learn to follow the conventions of only MLA or APA.  Style guides are about more than just citing sources of information or ideas. Guides can help you improve the style of your writing and avoid bias, for example.
 

Did You Know?

Most of the major style guides can be found at Pace University's Campus Libraries. Information you need to locate the books (call numbers and locations) can be found here. Ask at the circulation or reference desk if you're having trouble finding a book.