Research & Citing Sources
In the era of fake news, misinformation and disinformation have clouded the landscape making it more difficult to decipher what is factual and true. Before you share on social media, stop and evaluate the information. Is it credible? How accurate is this information? Is it reasonable? Does it include support (who is the authority)? If you answer no to any of these questions, then its not worth sharing. Don't contribute the problem of misinformation.
The Research Process
Academic writers continually study and use the ideas of others. However good and original their own ideas may be, they must explore the work of authorities in their field, determine its value and relevance to their own work, and then integrate the ideas and words of others with their own. This process is called research.
To make use of another person's ideas in developing your own work, you first need to appreciate (and even temporarily share) that person's point of view. In analyzing another's words you'll be able to identify what interests and puzzles you.
Over Cite vs. Oversight
It is always better to over cite where you found your information. The oversight of not citing enough or not citing at all will lead to the accusation of plagiarism.
Quoting Sources
In academic writing, presenting the words of another writer through quotation is the most basic way to support your own ideas. Quotation enables you to give credit to your sources for both borrowed ideas and borrowed words. Experienced writers use quotation marks only when they think it is essential to present the source's exact words.
Correct Quotation tells your reader that you:
respect your sources
know how to distinguish between your own work and theirs
will not plagiarize—make unacknowledged use of another writer's words and ideas.
Appropriate Quotation tells your reader that you:
know when to quote
are not allowing your sources' words to dominate your writing
Who's Got Style?
The BIG Three
The following are the three main styles used in scholarly research.
Humanities—English, language and literature researchers, education.
Science, Psychology, from nursing to social work, communications to education, business to engineering etc.
Notes and Bibliography: used by those in the humanities—including history, literature and the arts.
Author-Date: more common in the sciences and social sciences.