SAC Intext Citation

58 Learning Center, SAC 2015 :CD MLA In-text Citation Use a signal phrase to alert the reader that words or ideas of another author are included. A paraphrase may incorporate a signal phrase, but a direct quote must follow a signal phrase. The signal phrase prepares the reader for the quote. Signal Phrases: adds asserts compares denies grants notes refutes suggests admits believes confirms disputes illustrates observes rejects thinks agrees claims contends emphasizes implies points out reports writes argues comments declares endorses insists reasons responds acknowledges Signal Phrase and Direct Quote: As Brenda D. Smith explains, “Socrates proclaimed himself to be the wisest of all thinkers because he knew how little he knew” (393). The long, or block, quote, which is a direct quote of four or more lines, not necessarily four sentences, is indented two tabs from the margin (1/2”). Quotation marks are not used, and the final punctuation is placed before the parenthetical citation. A block quote example is below: Dinh 2 Socrates was a teacher, and one of his students was the philosopher Plato. Socrates’ beliefs informed his teaching style, as Smith explains: Socrates proclaimed himself to be the wisest of all thinkers because he knew how little he knew. He used a method of teaching that explored a subject from all sides with questions and answers, as opposed to the lecture method. Today, this teaching technique is known as the Socratic Method. He left behind no written works, but his pupil Plato later immortalized Socrates’ lively discussions in his own works. (393) Every college instructor may not use the Socratic Method, but many use some form of Socrates’ approach. 58 Learning Center, SAC 2015 :CD In-text Citation An essay may include a direct quote, where the source author’s exact words are used, or a paraphrase, where the writer includes the source author’s ideas or information but writes these in her own words. In addition to the Works Cited page at the end of the essay, writers must also give credit within the body of the composition to all sources used. These citations are called in-text citations, or parenthetical citations. Whichever word is used to describe these, they include brief information about the source. Quick Reference: In-text Citation Table Source author name in text, with quotation Lopez claims that “instructor concerns with ethical questions” affect teaching methods (15). Source author name in text, without quotation Frye develops this argument (67-69). Source author name in citation, with page number This argument appears elsewhere (Frye 67-69). Source author name in citation, without page number The blog, “Currents,” claims that further study of specific correlations is needed (Nguyen). Quotation found in indirect source The philosopher Alain states that “admiration is not pleasure but a kind of attention” (qtd. in Magny 66). Material found in indirect source Alain’s words seem to dissociate admiration from pleasure (in Magny 66). Two source authors in citation For fuller understanding, readers should research the relevant culture and history (Said and Do 6). Material found in two locations of same source Ehrenreich covers this issue (22, 31). Two sources cited This issue was addressed before (Said 76; Do 150).