Citation, Referencing, Bibliographies
Citation
What is citation?
A "citation" is the way you tell your readers that certain material in your work came from another source. It also gives your readers the information necessary to find that source again, including:
- information about the author
- the title of the work
- the name and location of the company that published your copy of the source
- the date your copy was published
- the page numbers of the material you are borrowing
Why should I cite sources?
Giving credit to the original author by citing sources is the only way to use other people's work without plagiarizing. But there are a number of other reasons to cite sources:
- citations are extremely helpful to anyone who wants to find out more about your ideas and where they came from
- not all sources are good or right -- your own ideas may often be more accurate or interesting than those of your sources. Proper citation will keep you from taking the rap for someone else's bad ideas
- citing sources shows the amount of research you've done
- citing sources strengthens your work by lending outside support to your ideas
Doesn't citing make my work seem less original?
Not at all. On the contrary, citing sources actually helps your reader distinguish your ideas from those of your sources. This will actually emphasize the originality of your own work.
When do I need to cite?
Whenever you borrow words or ideas, you need to acknowledge their source. The following situations almost always require citation:
- whenever you use quotes
- whenever you paraphrase
- whenever you use an idea that someone else has already expressed
- whenever you make specific reference to the work of another
- whenever someone else's work has been critical in developing your own ideas.
Quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing
What are the differences among quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?
These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source writing.
Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.
Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.
Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.
Why use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries?
Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to:
- Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing
- Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing
- Give examples of several points of view on a subject
- Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with
- Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original
- Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own
- Expand the breadth or depth of your writing
Writers frequently intertwine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations.
How to use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries
- Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas.
- Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the essay is.
- Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay.
- Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe should be quoted directly.
There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text. Often, a short quotation works well when integrated into a sentence. Longer quotations can stand alone. Remember that quoting should be done only sparingly; be sure that you have a good reason to include a direct quotation when you decide to do so. You'll find guidelines for citing sources and punctuating citations at our documentation guide pages.
How to reference and write a bibliography
When researching you should always document or reference where you take your information from.
There are two reasons for this. Firstly, it allows those who read your work to find the same information (it's all about sharing and caring!). Secondly, it proves that you haven't plagiarized somebody else's work (copied it), which is strictly forbidden.
Here are some tips for referencing your research:
- Write down your source every time you find a new one.
- Document the date of your internet search. Why? As webpages and databases change, it's important to know when you accessed them.
- Present your bibliography in the correct format (people get very picky about this!). To be sure you've done this correctly, use the following guide (in Swedish further down):
Books
There are several ways of citing your sources. When it comes to books, you have to find the verso of the title page – that is the page on the back of the title page where you find publishing information. It is usually at the beginning of the book. Here you will find the author of the book, if there is one – otherwise look for an editor, the date of publication, the title of the book, the city of publication, and the publisher.
You can write it like this:
Wilkinson, Philip (2000). Ships. New York: Kingfisher
Hopkins, Lee Bennett (ed.) (2000). My America: a poetry atlas of the United States. New York: Simon & Schuster
Encyclopedias
If you use an encyclopedia you write the title of the article first, then the date of publication of the volume, the title of the encyclopedia, the volume number, the city of publication, and the publisher.
You can write it like this:
Egypt. (2012) The World Book Encyclopedia. Volume 6. Chicago: World Book
Web sites
Web sites can be a bit difficult when writing a bibliography. It is important to include the title of the site, the web address (URL), and when you accessed the information, as the content on web sites can change often. If an author’s name can be found, it should be included.
You can write it like this:
AAA Math. http://www.aaastudy.com/add.htm , www.aaamath. [2011-02-28]
Databases
When you use facts from databases, such as NE, World Book Online or Landguiden, include the title of the article, the date of the latest update, the title of the database, who is responsible for the database, the web address (URL) of the database, and when you accessed the information.
You can write it like this:
Norge. (2010) Landguiden Länder i fickformat Online. Utrikespolitiska Institutet. http://www.landguiden.se, [2011-02-07]
Newspaper articles
For newspaper articles, record who wrote the article, year, title of the article, in which newspaper and which date the article was published. The date is usually on the front page of the newspaper, as well as at the top of each page.
You can write it like this:
Reier, Sharon (2006). “A word to the wise: Choose the right translator”, International Herald Tribune. (2006-11-24)
Magazine article
A magazine is not published daily, but maybe once a week or once a month. In your bibliography you should list who wrote the article, which year the article was published, the title of the article, in which magazine and in which volume (issue) it was published. The volume or issue number is usually printed on the cover of the magazine. You should also write on which pages the article can be found.
You can write it like this:
Cock, Guillermo A. (2002). “Inca Rescue”, National Geographic, May 2002, p. 78-91
Interviews
When you interview someone it is important to write down who is interviewed, the person’s title, and which date you interviewed the person. Sometimes teachers will want your interview questions as an attachment to your project.
You can write it like this:
Dahlin, Mary. Rektor på Internationella Engelska Skolan i Linköping. Regarding: Lgr 11 [Intervju] 2013-01-16
Thunberg, Lena. Journalist. Regarding: Västsahara [E-postintervju] 2013-01-15
TV & Radio Programmes
When you use facts from TV or radio programmes you should write the name of the show, the broadcasting channel and date. If you have seen or listened to the show on a Play channel or a podcast you write the web address (URL) and when you accessed the information.
You can write it like this:
Dokument Utifrån. Iran och bomben. Sveriges Television 2013-01-27. SVT Play http://www.svtplay.se/dokument-utifran [2013-01-31]
Stil i P1. Stil om David Bowie som stilbildare. Sveriges Radio 2013-01-25.
Movies & Documentaries
When you use facts from feature films or documentaries you should write the name of the film, film format, film director or producer, distribution company and release year.
You can write it like this:
Hitchcock (DVD). Direction Sasha Gervasi. 20th Century Fox. 2012
Världens befolkning. (DVD). Publisher: Bertil Sandberg. Filmo. 2009
Böcker
Det finns flera sätt att skriva upp sina källor. När det gäller böcker måste man slå upp titelsidan, som brukar finnas på de första sidorna i boken. Där hittar du bokens författare, (i annat fall ska du titta efter huvudredaktör), tryckår, bokens titel, utgivningsort, och förlag.
Så här kan du skriva:
Ewald, Stefan (red) (1996). Religionslexikonet. Stockholm: Forum
Thorstensson, Per m fl (2003). Geografi. Elevbok 9. Stockholm: Natur och Kultur
Uppslagsverk
Om du använder dig av uppslagsverk så skrivs sökordet först och därefter bandets tryckår, uppslagsverkets titel, bandets nummer samt utgivningsort och namnet på förlaget.
Så här kan du skriva
Egypten. (1990) Nationalencyklopedin. Band 5. Höganäs: Bra Böcker
Webbsida
Webbsidor kan vara lite knepiga när du ska skriva källor. Det är viktigt att få med sidans titel, webbadress (URL) och när du hämtade informationen [accessdatum], då innehållet på webben ändras ofta.
Så här kan du skriva:
Brottsförebyggande rådet.
http://www.bra.se/extra/pod/?action=pod_show&id=2&module_instance=9 , www.bra.se , [2011-02-07]
Databaser
När du hämtar fakta från databaser, såsom NE, Worldbookonline eller Landguiden, så ska du ta med ditt sökord, senaste uppdatering av sidan, databasens titel, vem som är ansvarig för databasen, databasens adress (URL) samt när du hämtade informationen [accessdatum].
Så här kan du skriva:
Norge. (2011) Landguiden Länder i fickformat Online. Utrikespolitiska Institutet. www.landguiden.se , [2011-02-07]
Tidningsartikel
När det gäller en artikel från en dagstidning, så skriv upp vem som skrivit artikeln, året, artikelns titel, i vilken tidning och vilket datum som artikeln publicerades. Datum brukar stå på tidningens första sida och högst upp på varje sida.
Så här kan du skriva:
Nandorf, Tove (2006). ”Polisen tar inte vardagsbrotten på allvar”, Dagens Nyheter. (2006-03-15)
Tidskriftsartikel
En tidskrift är en tidning som inte kommer ut varje dag, utan kanske en gång i veckan eller månaden. I källförteckningen bör du få med vem som skrivit artikeln, vilket år artikeln publicerades, artikelns titel, i vilken tidning och vilken volym (nummer) som artikeln publicerades i. Tidningens nummer brukar stå på omslaget. Det ska också stå vilken/vilka sidor artikeln finns på.
Så här kan du skriva:
Rasch, Ebbe (2005). ”Slaget om Stilla Havet”, Världens historia, vol 2, s. 64-71
Intervjuer
När du intervjuar någon är det viktigt att skriva ut vem du intervjuat, intervjupersonens titel samt vilket datum du intervjuade personen.
Så här kan du skriva:
Dahlin, Mary. Rektor på Internationella Engelska Skolan i Linköping. Angående: Lgr 11 [Intervju] 2013-01-16
Thunberg, Lena. Journalist. Angående: Västsahara [E-postintervju] 2013-01-15
TV & radioprogram
Du bör ha med programseriens/programmets namn, vilken kanal programmet gått på, datum. Om du sett/lyssnat på programmet på en Play-kanal/poddradiokanal så skriver du webbadressen (URL) och det datum du såg/lyssnade på programmet.
Så här kan du skriva:
Dokument Utifrån. Iran och bomben. Sveriges Television 2013-01-27. SVT Play http://www.svtplay.se/dokument-utifran [2013-01-31]
Stil i P1. Stil om David Bowie som stilbildare. Sveriges Radio 2013-01-25.
Spelfilmer/Faktafilm
Om du använder dig av spelfilmer eller faktafilmer som källa ska du ha med programmets titel, formatet på filmen, regissör eller innehållsansvarig, distributionsbolag och vilket årtal filmen är från.
Så här kan du skriva:
Hotel Rwanda. (DVD). Regi Terry George. Swedish Films. 2005
Världens befolkning. (DVD). Ansvarig utgivare: Bertil Sandberg. Filmo. 2009