Crediting Sources: What and Why

Crediting sources gives an author or resource credit for original information.

Crediting sources in your paper includes two parts:
• In-Text Citations: When you present information in the body of your
essay, you briefly identify its source.
• References Page: End of your paper (Last Page), you write a detailed list of
the sources cited in your essay.

Types of citations
There are two basic ways to cite someone's work in an essay; narrative and
parenthetical citations. In the narrative in-text citation, the author’s name is in
the text of the sentence and the page number is at the end of the sentence. In a
parenthetical citation, on the other hand, the last name of the author, the year of
the publication, and the page number are in parentheses.

Figure 1 – An Example of a Narrative and Parenthetical Citation

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Example: Read the original paragraph on the Mediterranean diet below and
the paraphrased versions of this paragraph using a parenthetical and
narrative in-text citation.
The Mediterranean diet, which prioritizes fresh produce in addition to whole
grains, legumes, nuts, fish, and olive oil, is a good model for healthy eating,
and it’s been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and
dementia.
(Source: Gina Smith, The New York Times, 2024, p. 12)

Sample Answer with a parenthetical in-text citation: The Mediterranean

eating pattern, emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables alongside whole
grains, legumes, nuts, seafood, and olive oil, serves as an excellent
example of healthy nutrition, and research indicates that following this diet
can reduce the likelihood of developing heart disease, cancer, diabetes,
and dementia (Smith, 2024, p. 12).

Sample Answer with a narrative in-text citation: Smith (2024) states that
the Mediterranean eating pattern, emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables
alongside whole grains, legumes, nuts, seafood, and olive oil, serves as an
excellent example of healthy nutrition, and research indicates that
following this diet can reduce the likelihood of developing heart disease,
cancer, diabetes, and dementia (p. 12).

Citing Secondary Sources

Secondary source citations should appear in the essay like this:
Narrative citation
Swift (as cited in Leonardi, 2019) argued that people often become similar to
those they spend a lot of time with. Even strangers tend to mimic each
other’s movements and expressions, and studies have shown that friends’,
strangers’, and lovers’ heartbeats or brainwaves often sync up (p. 56).
Parenthetical citation

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People often become similar to those they spend a lot of time with. Even
strangers tend to mimic each other’s movements and expressions, and
studies have shown that friends’, strangers’, and lovers’ heartbeats or
brainwaves often sync up (Swift, as cited in Leonardi, 2011, p. 56).

Practice with Secondary Source Citation

Read the paragraph below and summarize/paraphrase it while paying
attention to the secondary citation rule.
According to Gayle Woloschak, an associate dean and professor of radiology
at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, spending all day
glued to smartphones probably isn’t doing people any favors. Excess phone
use has been linked with a range of concerns, including sleep issues,
elevated cortisol levels, and joint pain. But if it’s radiation people are worried
about, experts say it is not necessary to ditch your phone. There’s no risk of
anything hazardous or dangerous with radiation from cell phones.
(Source: Emily Caffrey, The New York Times, 2021, p. 32).

Punctuation in In-Text Citation

According to Cook (1986), the systematic development of literacy and
schooling meant a new division in society, between the educated and the
uneducated (p. 27).

After the paraphrased sentence,

state the page number within
parentheses.
Place the period AFTER the

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The systematic development of literacy and schooling meant a new division
in society, between the educated and the uneducated (Cook, 1986, p. 27).

* Use parentheses to
enclose the in-text citation
* Use commas to separate
the last name, year, and
page number.
* Place the period AFTER
the citation.
Reporting Verbs
In the Long Writing Exam (LWE), you need to use a variety of citation
strategies and one of them is a narrative in-text citation. When you use this
style, reporting verbs help you introduce the ideas or words of others as
paraphrases. Reporting verbs are always accompanied by a citation, which
means they indicate where you’re drawing on other people’s work to build
your own argument.
They also indicate your stance (agree, disagree, etc), highlighting your
critical contribution. There are many reporting verbs to choose from and,
depending on context, they might be used to convey more than one stance,
so you’ll notice that some appear in more than one category.
This list of reporting verbs has been organized by the critical stances they
signal:
Critical Stance Reporting Verbs Example

Neutral description of what the Observes Abrams (2007)

text says mentions that culture
Describes
shock has long been
Discusses misunderstood as a
primarily psychological
Reports phenomenon (p. 34).
Outlines
Remarks Chakrabarty (2010)
States outlines the four
stages of mitosis (p.
Says 72)
Mentions
Articulates

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 Writes
Conveys

Recognition that this is one Argues Abrams (2007)

perspective on or interpretation contends that culture
of an issue or conclusion, and Reasons shock is socially
others might be possible produced (p. 38).
Maintains
Contends
Chakrabarty (2010)
Proposes maintains that
Feels metaphase is a more
complex process than
Considers previously thought (p.
77).
Asserts
Disputes
Advocates
Thinks
Implies
Posits
Shows Abrams (2007) points
out that culture shock
Agreement with that Illustrates
is a stress response
perspective/interpretation/concl
Points out mechanism (p. 34).
usion
Proves
Finds Chakrabarty (2010)
proves that mitosis is
Explains irreversible, once
Agrees triggered (p. 80).

Confirms
Identifies

Disagreement with that Believes Abrams (2007) claims

perspective/interpretation/concl that neurochemical
Claims
usion factors contribute to
Justifies culture shock (p. 36).

Insists Chakrabarty (2010)

speculates that
metaphase is the most

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 Assumes important stage of
mitosis (p. 78).
Alleges
Denies
Speculates

Slight reservations held – Notes Abrams (2007) asserts

probably true but being that theories of culture
Asserts
cautious shock have moved
Suggests away from
psychological
Emphasizes explanations (p. 35).
Declares
Indicates Chakrabarty (2010)
Comments emphasizes the role of
metaphase within
mitosis (p. 78).
*Adapted from Newcastle University, Academic Skills Kit

Paraphrasing & In-Text Citation Practice

Task 1: Paraphrase this paragraph by using both a parenthetical and
narrative in-text citation.
Nearly half of American adults have hypertension, 40 percent have high
cholesterol, and more than one-third have pre-diabetes. All the healthy
behaviors help manage these conditions and prevent them from developing
into even more serious diseases, but sometimes lifestyle interventions aren’t
enough. That’s why experts say it’s critical to follow your doctor’s advice to
keep things under control.
(Source: John Rowe, The New York Times, 2012, p. 32)

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Task 2: Paraphrase this paragraph by using both a parenthetical and
narrative in-text citation.
Small business owners increasingly are making the switch to cashless
payments for several reasons, including rising consumer demand, faster
checkout, lower labor costs, and increased security. Those who wait risk
losing revenue, experts say. But there are drawbacks to going cash-free,
including a learning curve for entrepreneurs who may not understand how to
set up digital payments, a lack of accessibility to credit cards for low-income
consumers, and privacy concerns.
(Source: Gregory Schmidt, The New York Times, 2021, p. 27)

Task 3: Paraphrase this paragraph by using both a parenthetical and

narrative in-text citation.
Alcohol consumption in the United States has generally increased over the
last 20 years, said Dr. Timothy Naimi, the director of the Canadian Institute
for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria. While men still die
more often from drinking-related causes than women, deaths among women
are climbing at a faster rate.
(Source: Dani Blum, The New York Times, 2022, p. 34).

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Task 4: Paraphrase this paragraph by using both a parenthetical and
narrative in-text citation.
Coffee can be many things: a morning ritual, a cultural tradition, a
productivity hack, and even a health drink. Studies suggest, for instance,
that coffee drinkers live longer and have lower risks of Type 2 diabetes,
Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular conditions, and some cancers. Although
caffeine can cause a short-term increase in your blood pressure and heart
rate, particularly if you don’t consume it regularly, it isn’t usually harmful.
Studies show that habitual coffee drinking does not seem to raise blood
pressure or the risk of an abnormal heart rhythm in the long run.
(Source: Adrienne Hughes, The New York Times, 2019, p. 12).

Task 5: Paraphrase this paragraph by using both a parenthetical and

narrative in-text citation.
Many of us reach for comfort foods like ice cream after a long day. But if you
make late night snacking a regular habit, it could have unintended
consequences on your health, experts say. According to a recent study of the
eating habits of more than 34,000 U.S. adults, nearly 60 percent said it was
normal for them to eat after 9 p.m. Research suggests that, if possible, it’s
best to avoid eating for three to four hours before your usual bedtime. That
timing is likely better for your long-term health, and may also reduce
symptoms of acid reflux, which can interfere with sleep.
(Source: Frank Scheer, The New York Times, 2018, p. 17).

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 Table 1 – APA In-text Citation Guide for Long Writing Exam (LWE)

Figure 2 – “Did I Plagiarize” Flowchart

References

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/14/business/small-business-cashless-digital-
payments.html?searchResultPosition=3
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/well/alcohol-drinking-women-health.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/26/well/eat/coffee-benefits-caffeine-risks.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/well/eat/eating-late-night-health.html

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