In-text citations

In-text Citations

Part 1

There are three different ways to cite a text.

1. Direct Citation - Use quotes to cite verbatim. Example: According to AI specialist and futurist Ray Kurzweil (2011), "Our technology, our machines, is part of our humanity. We created them to extend ourselves, and that is what is unique about human beings."

2. Paraphrase - Reword the citation to fit your essay. Example: Ray Kurzweil (2011), a futurist and AI expert suggests that technologies and machines are merely an extension of the human being. We are the only species that contributes to our own evolutionary development.

3. Summary - Example: Futurist Ray Kurzweil (2011) suggests that humanity's next evolutionary step will take place when we merge with our technologies.

Citing references is fundamental to scholarship. ANYTHING that you did not create from your brain, must be cited. You must cite not only words that someone else created, but also the concepts and ideas that triggered your own ideas. The kernal of the idea that you borrowed must be cited. The resulting creative ideas are yours. Example: Kurzweil's idea that humans will merge with our technology belongs to him and must be cited. Your idea that we will become XYZ as a result of this merger - XYZ belongs to you.

Part 2

Discussion & Evaluation

When we cite, we should enter a discussion with our authors we choose. Some sources we will use to confirm our viewpoint. Others we should use as a point of contention. We should not agree with all our sources as if they were all absolutely true. We should use some citations as foils which differ from our point of view but after we refute it, it makes our point even stronger. Of course, when we create a discussion we also involve ourselves in evaluation of the sources. Who makes a better argument? Who is correct?

Example:

The topic of the next step in human evolution is embroiled in hot debated. On the one hand, futurist Ray Kurzweil believes that the next evolutionary step of humanity will take place when humanity will merge with our technology, "Our technology, our machines, is part of our humanity. We created them to extend ourselves, and that is what is unique about human beings" (Adams, 2011). On the other hand, Tom Lombardo contradicts Kurzweil and believes a Kurweil is mistaken when he fails to consider the evolution of consciousness, "Perhaps we do not need to understand the reality of consciousness in order to tran-scend (or envelop) the human manifestation of it" (2012). Thus the concept of the next step of human evolution is hotly debated. However, what is evident is that there will be further developments in human evolution. Kurzweil (2005) and others have convincingly asserted that human evolution has has been spurred by human technologies beginning from the control of fire and the stone-age. What Lombardo fails to address is Kurzweils'...

References

Adams, A. (2011). Evolution is a spiritual process: An interview with Ray Kurzweil. The Huffington Post:

TECH. Aug. 8 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anthony-adams/ray-kurzweil-interview_b_921015.html

Kurzweil, R. (2005). The singularity is near: When humans transcend biology. Viking Press: New York, NY.

Lombardo, T. (2012). Consciousness, cosmic evolution, and the technological singularity. Journal of

Future Studies. December http://www.academia.edu/2131108/Consciousness_Cosmic_Evolution_

and_the_Technological_Singularity