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When to Cite and When Not to: Understanding Sources and Common Knowledge

Learn when to cite sources for words or ideas and when common knowledge doesn't require citation. Explore guidelines for determining common knowledge. Includes quick guide to parenthetical documentation.

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When to Cite and When Not to: Understanding Sources and Common Knowledge

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  1. When do you cite? • Words or ideas presented in a source • Information you gain through interviewing or conversing with another person, face to face, over the phone, or in writing (ask me for more details if you’re planning to interview) • Bottom line, document any words, ideas, or other productions that originate somewhere outside of you.

  2. When you don’t have to cite • When you are using "common knowledge," things like folklore, common sense observations, myths, urban legends, and historical events, like, “Henry Ford was born in 1863.” • When you are using generally-accepted facts, e.g., “Pollution is bad for the environment.”

  3. Deciding if Something is "Common Knowledge" • Generally speaking, you can regard something as common knowledge if you find the same information undocumented in at least five credible sources. • It might be common knowledge if you think the information you're presenting is something a reasonably intelligent person (  ) would know, or something that a person could easily find in general reference sources. • When in doubt, cite; if the citation turns out to be unnecessary, I’ll tell you!

  4. Parenthetical Documentation • Quick check-how would you write an in-text citation for…(include a page number of your choice when needed)  Hiserodt, Ed. “Liberty from Global-Warming Alarmism.” The New American 24 Nov. 2008: 27-30. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 10 May 2012. “In your view, is global warming a very serious problem, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not a problem?” Pew Research Center 8 May 2009. Polling the Nations: the Ultimate Survey Database. Web. 20 May 2012. Lamm, Richard D. and BuieSeawell. “Global Warming Brings a Clash of Civilizations.” Progressive Populist 1 Mar. 2005: n. pag. Rpt. in Writing the Critical Essay: Global Warming. Detroit: GreenhavenPress, 2006. 39-44. Print.

  5. Is this plagiarism? • With a partner, look over the examples on the paper and decide if it is acceptable, or if it is plagiarized. • Write a brief note explaining your answer (one paper per partner group is fine).

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