In most essays you must use evidence to support your point. This evidence, of course, could be obtained from a variety of sources, including in this unit likely print material or from an interview. In either case, you must cite where you obtained your information.

It is vital that you identify to the reader in your essay where you found each piece of information to support your point. This is primarily done in your works cited page (or bibliography), but you must also do it within the essay itself, so that the reader is able to recognize that this particular piece of information is from a different person other than the writer of the essay itself (and you avoid being accused of plagiarism). It is important to remember that the Works Cited page and the citations of quotes and facts within the essay must be consistent, and have the same information throughout.

How do I cite a quote or piece of information within my essay?

It is suggested that students look at the MLA Handbook (which excerpts are included in the St. Martin’s Guide) before starting any essay. Citing sources within an essay is quite simple, though, and it depends on what your are citing. Basically, each citation must include two pieces of information:

The author’s name (who wrote the idea or said the quote)
The page number it could be found from the book listed in your Works Cited page (or in the case of an interview a reference to that interview)

The easiest way to see this is through the following examples. There are three primary ones you will use in your essays and I have tried to explain them to you as basically as possible. Here they are:

I. Direct quotes from an interview or work

Direct quotes are the simplest way of referencing another individual’s words and ideas. They are also the most influential for a reader. Make sure you get the quotation correct, though, and do not take away from the ideas of the author. These are simple to use, and must include the name of the speaker, and the work you are citing.

Here is a direct quote from a work:

There is proof that freshmen students love their composition class. A recent survey, done by a professor in the sociology department, found that “75% of freshmen students worshipped their brilliant graduate student instructor and found his jokes witty and insightful!” (Thomson 25).

NOTE: Sometimes you may give the author’s name in the introductory sentence to the quote and would therefore not need to give the author’s name in the brackets because you have already mentioned him/her.

Here is a quote from an interview:

But not only pets enjoy the humane treatment at the Frank William Home for Pets. The director explains that owners love their services too, as he explains that “our kennel is so loving, it’s not surprising that I have people ask me if they can spend the weekend in a cage too!” (Moore, personal interview)

II. Paraphrasing pieces of information

Sometimes you may want to paraphrase an author’s work or words while not going into great detail of its qualities, or mentioning specifically its pieces. It is important, then, that you provide proof that this is still the author’s ideas, though. You may want to think of a statement which sums up that person’s work and the reader could look at later to read another point of view on the subject.

Example:

George Thomas has an alternative view on the subject. He argues, in his book Why I Love Of Mice and Men, that Lennie was not a mentally infirm farmhand, but a dark conniving trickster (Thomas 23-4).

III. Large quotes (also called Block Quotations)

Sometimes, you may need to insert larger quotes in your essay to prove your point. A large quote is anything which would take up five lines or more within your body. You must specifically block out these words and not use quotation marks, then citing the author, year and page number at the end. You must also justify the margins on your quotation.

Example:

Ramona Sattee argues that readers must sympathize with George and his treatment is Lennie is justified:

George is sick of Lennie always screwing up, and it is is no wonder that he blah

blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah (Sattee 153-4).

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