Transcript Citation Day Tips - Fox Valley Lutheran High School

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 leasts
8 different sources -the more primary the better!
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 2009
2009 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 …
ALWAYS
Follow 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 Sources
You NEED…
author, title, (editor/translator) city,
publisher, copyright date
Work Cited Page Basics
For Web Sources
You 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 out
These
Helpful
Resources
on the
HE 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