Quoting Techniques

You don't have to cite and reference every single thing.

You're correct that not every piece of information requires a specific citation or reference. There are instances where certain information is widely known and considered common knowledge. Common knowledge refers to information that is widely accepted, well-known, and easily verifiable by a broad range of people.

For example, stating that "water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level" or "the Earth orbits around the Sun" are considered common knowledge and generally don't require specific citations or references. These facts are widely taught and understood.

However, it's important to note that what may be considered common knowledge can vary depending on factors such as cultural context, educational background, or personal experience. In situations where the information may not be universally known or accepted, providing citations or references can help support the claims made and enhance the credibility of the information being presented.

In academic or formal writing, it is customary to provide citations and references to support claims and give credit to the original sources of information. This practice ensures transparency and allows readers to verify and delve deeper into the topic if desired.

Ultimately, the need for citations and references depends on the specific context, the nature of the information, and the intended audience.

Fisher and Adams emphasize that coffee drinking is good for health. They have suggested that:

Drinking three cups of coffee a day can help improve your health. Those who drink no coffee often feel sleepy during the day. It is better to drink good coffee (Fisher and Adams 1994, p. 98) 

Cohabitation. Available at: cohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohabitation [1/12/08]

should we have a glass of milk daily? Available at: http://www.ifood.tv/blog/why_should_we_have_a_glass_of_milk_daily_p_rhttp://www.ifood.tv/blog/why_should_we_have_a_glass_of_milk_daily_p_r [1 December 2008]

2. Literature Review

In this section, I review the relevant literature. Firstly, I define the key terms: cohabitation, sex before marriage, and culture. I, secondly, discuss the reasons why cohabitation is a common phenomenon among teens.

1. Definitions

Cohabitation:  Wikipedia defines that cohabitation is “when people live together in an emotionally- and/or physically-intimate relationship. The term is most frequently applied to couples who are.”

According to http://dictionary.babylon.com, cohabitation is, “the living together of a man and woman in supposed sexual relationship”.

CITING AND QUOTING ACADEMIC REFERENCES: Tips and Overview

When you do a literature review you must reference your sources. You must use references when you a) quote directly b) when you cite someone’s ideas or c) when you use someone’s ideas or arguments, but don’t directly mention their name.

TERMS

• Quoting is using the words of others in your own writing (a ‘quotation’ is a noun, ‘to quote’ is the verb)

• Paraphrasing is putting in your own words what other authors have concluded or said

• Citing is placing the information of a source in brackets somewhere within the sentence (beginning or end). You cite both quotations and paraphrases.

• Referencing, though it can take a number of forms, means providing the whole information of the source, so that the reader can find it easily.

IMPORTANT THINGS WHEN QUOTING, CITING AND REFERENCING

1. Deciding what to quote or cite

2. Choosing how to quote: signaled quotations, separate sentences, blended or block quotations

3. Citation format (punctuation) and requirements (e.g. page number or not?)

4. Referencing format and requirements 

TIPS ON QUOTING

1. Quote because the quotation is more succinct than your own expression

2. Quote only what you need

3. You must be reference quotations appropriately and consistently

Opinions, rather than information 

Usually (depending on topic/content) you do not quote information, but opinions.

Information is easy to paraphrase and recount. Opinions however, are better to quote because a) it lends support to your argument due to the authority the writer lends your writing b) directly quoting someone’s opinion is better because you can’t be accused of misrepresenting the author.

Direct  quotes

You are probably most familiar with direct quotes, which are quotations that stand on their own. You can introduce the quote by saying something like: 

Smith (2001, p. 15) says/argues/writes: ‘learning to reference can be difficult’

Basically, you are adding a verb to indicate that it is someone else’s work rather than your own.

Examples of the language used

• According to Smith (1999, p 15), ‘….’ 

• Smith (1999) found that…

• In the research conducted by Smith (1999)…

• It has been found that people who eat before class are less attentive (Smith, 1999). 

You can also use the information or ideas of other people to critique them:

Smith found that people who eat before class are less attentive (Smith, 1999). However, it seems he did not take into account the type of food they ate, or how much.

Blending

Blending a quote into your own writing is more difficult. It when you incorporate the words of other authors into your own writing, in the middle of your sentences. One reason it is more difficult is because you have to make sure that the whole sentence is still grammatically correct. This means you have to either adapt the author’s words slightly, to fit your sentence, or, perhaps more easily, adapt your own sentence so that you can accommodate the author’s structure.

Many students become confused when it comes to referencing, but, while it ‘can be difficult’ (Smith 2001, p.15), it is important.

Block quotes 

In some cases it is necessary to use more than a simple phrase or sentence, such as when an author.  Use this format when you use a chunk of a quote from an author.