Citing your Sources

When you write your research paper, it is important to cite every source you use. This insures that you give the people from whom you got your information get credit for their ideas. Failure to give this credit results in plagiarism.

This is where copying down all the bibliogroaphical information from your sources will come in handy. If you have neglected this important step, this is where you will really start to regret doing so.

EXAMPLE – Many Major League Baseball players in the 1940s and 50s took years out of their careers to serve in the military (Jones 345). One well known example is Ted Williams who took time out of his career with the Boston Red Sox to serve in World War II and the Korean War. “Williams said he owed it to his country to serve, and that the bats and balls would be waiting for him upon his return” (Thomas 194).

In this example it should be clear that the first bit of paraphrased evidence came from an author named Jones, and the direct quote came from an author named Thomas. If a reader wanted to know more about these sources, the entire entry will be listed alphabetically in my bibliography.

EXAMPLE -- Negro League players faced many problems once they joined Major Leagur teams. Many were the only African-Americans on their teams, and in many cases they were forced to use different showers, and they were not permitted to wash their uniforms with the rest of the team's clothes. These troubles were not only in the clubhouse and dugout. In many cities, these players received death threats and were taunted by racist fans (Negro League Baseball Museum).

In this example it should be clear that all this information was taken from the Negro League Baseball Museum. Since this was from a website, no page number is necessary. Look at the difference between the first and second examples. The first has two sources in the same paragraph, so I put the citation after the information from that source ends. In the second example, I just put it at the end of the paragraph.

In most cases, your citation will include the last name of the author, or the origanization responsible for a website plus the page number, if necessary. The period always goes outside the citation.

EXAMPLES -- (Siegmund 74). (Jones 1). (National Association of Negro League Players).

Sometimes these citations are a little different if you name the author at the beginning of the paragraph. In that case, all you need is the page number.

EXAMPLE -- In his autobiography, Ready to Play Cool Pappa Bell describes his first time traveling with a major league team. "First off, I had to stay in a different hotel on the colored side of town. I was late to the stadium because the team bus wouldn't drive over there to pick one player up. My manager was angry about that, but when I stole three bases and hit a double in the game, he seemed to forget pretty fast" (34).