How to Cite Your Sources in Your Paper - DOC

							                           How to Cite Your Sources in Your Paper

The purpose of an internal citation is to give credit to the source of the information you use. This includes
quotations, paraphrases and summaries of information. The internal citation should show the source of your
information in a brief and clear way. Each text reference to a source must follow the format you used in the
Works Cited page. In almost all cases, they go at the end of your sentence.

For books, you use the author or editor’s last name and the page number(s) in parentheses.

       Life and Time were popular magazines that featured news and photographs during the 1930s
       (Pendergast 454).

If you are using the same source and page for two sentences in a row, you only list the source after the
second sentence.

       During the 1930s, comic books covering a variety of topics first appeared. They remain popular still
       today among young people (Pendergast 439).

If you are using the same source but different pages, you need to list a page number on the second
reference.

       During the 1930s, comic books covering a variety of topics first appeared (Pendergast 438). They
       remain popular still today among young people (439).

For books that have no author, use an abbreviated version of the title as it appears on your Works
Cited page. Underline the title.

       Statistics show that drinking water makes up nearly 20 percent of the average person’s exposure to
       lead (Information 75).

If you are using two books written by the same author or editor, put a comma after their name and
write an abbreviated version of the title before the page number.

       Vampires became the subject of literature in the mid-1700s and grew in popularity when movies such
       as Dracula came out in 1931 (Pendergast, Literature 22-23).

If you are using Internet sources and online databases, you follow the same format as other citations
with one exception. You do not use page numbers unless they are clearly stated on the Web site
[Choice of words to use: 1. Author’s last name, 2. Title of article/web page – How it’s listed in your
Works Cited page]


       In 1933, Frances Perkins became the first woman cabinet member when she was named secretary of
       labor (“Decade”). – Source is “Decade by Decade: 1930s. Women of the Century.” Discovery
       Schools Web Site.