Resources for Writers

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Sources and Documentation

When to Cite: A citation serves as an acknowledgment of the source you're using. You need of course to cite a source whenever you use its exact words, but you also need to cite when you use its idea, information, data, organizational structure, or key concept, even if you put it in your own words. You don't need to cite a source when the material is common knowledge - knowledge that is generally accepted, widely available, and not subject to interpretation. The dates of the Civil War are common knowledge; its causes are not. Different things may count as common knowledge in different fields; if you're not sure, you should cite your source.

The links below give more details on when you need to cite, along with examples of proper and improper citation and paraphrase. See also Gordon Harvey's Writing with Sources (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1998), pp. 14-15.

Mechanics of Citation: After you've figured out how to incorporate a source into your essay, you need to think about the technical aspects of the citation. The first thing to determine is the style of citation you’re using. Different disciplines tend to prefer different styles; for instance, English departments often use MLA style, while History departments might use Chicago style. If you’re not sure what style you should be using, ask your professor. The next thing to determine is the type of document you’re citing. You’ll need to include different information depending on whether you’re citing a book, article, newspaper, film, interview, etc. There are also rules for citing electronic sources such as websites and email.

Citation Guidelines for MLA, Chicago, APA, and CSE Styles: The chart below indicates the major types of citation style. The links will take you to the relevant page of Diana Hacker's website, Research and Documentation Online. The site has useful pull-down menus that will tell you how to write the bibliographical entry for every possible kind of source, from books and articles to paintings, listserv postings, and newspaper articles. Another good resource is UW-Madison's Citing References in Your Paper, which also indicates the proper format for the various kinds of citation. You might also try an online bibliography generator such as bibme, but if you use this type of website be sure to doublecheck that your sources are cited fully and properly.

Name Disciplines In-text Citations Bibliography Sample Paper
MLA (Modern Language Association English and other humanities MLA in-text citations MLA works cited MLA sample paperpdf
Chicago History and other humanities Chicago footnotes and endnotes Chicago bibliography Chicago sample paperpdf
APA (American Psychological Association) Social sciences and natural sciences APA in-text citations APA list of references APA sample paperpdf
CSE or CBE (Council of Science Editors) Biology and natural sciences CSE number system CSE reference list CSE sample paperpdf

Plagiarism

What is plagiarism? Plagiarism is taking someone else's work and passing it off as one's own. It is obviously plagiarism to buy an essay on-line or to copy sections of a published article word-for-word and then submit it as your final paper. But plagiarism doesn't just mean using someone else's exact words; using ideas, data, or even organizational structures from a source without acknowledging it is also plagiarism. Putting the idea into your own words isn't enough; it's still plagiarism if you don't properly acknowledge your source. It takes some time to understand this subtler form of plagiarism, but it's crucial that you do so, and not only in order to avoid the serious consequences of plagiarism. As you learn how to work with sources - with other people's work - you're also learning how to find your own voice, a voice you will use to express your ideas and make your arguments in your Haverford classes and beyond.

Haverford's Policy on Plagiarism: The Honor Code says that "A gross act of plagiarism constitutes a student's withdrawal from the commitment to the academic honesty required by the Honor Code, and will normally result in separation from the community" (III.A).

The Writing Process

What is the Academic Essay?

Preparing to Write

Thesis & Argument

Introductions

Conclusions

Using Sources

Structure and Transitions

Revision and Editing

Blocks to Writing

Kinds of Writing

Responding to Writing

Writing in the Disciplines

Writing in the Humanities

See what some Haverford professors have to say about writing in their disciplines:

The Dartmouth College Writing Center also has some advice about writing in different disciplines in the humanities.

The Harvard University Writing Center offers a set of hand-outs which index and precisely describe the process of preparing the argumentative essay, from the close, critical reading of an assignment to editing the final essay.

Documentation in the Humanities

Essays in the humanties are generally written in MLA Style or in Chicago Style. Check with your professor to find out what style of documentation you should use.

Writing in the Social Sciences

See what some Haverford professors have to say about writing in their disciplines:

On Narrative and Sociology, John Shelton Reed (Social Forces 68.1:1-14) (requires JSTOR access)

The Dartmouth College Writing Center also has some advice about writing in different disciplines in the social sciences.

The Harvard University Writing Center offers a set of hand-outs which index and precisely describe the process of preparing the argumentative essay, from the close, critical reading of an assignment to editing the final essay.

Documentation in the Social Sciences

Different disciplines in the social sciences will ask for different kinds of documentation, most often Chicago Style or APA Style. Check with your professor to find out what style of documentation you should use.

Writing for the Natural Sciences

See what some Haverford professors have to say about writing in their disciplines:

The Science of Scientific Writing, by George Gopen and Judith Swan, offers some general principles about writing clearly in a scientific paper.

Advice to Beginning Physics Speakers, by James C. Garland, offers advice on public speaking that may be useful to students in other scientific disciplines. pdf

The Dartmouth College Writing Center has some advice about writing in different disciplines in the sciences.

Documentation in the Natural Sciences

Different disciplines in the sciences will ask for different kinds of documentation, most often APA Style or CSE or CBE Style. Check with your professor to find out what style of documentation you should use.

Grammar, Punctuation, and Style

Tips on Grammar, Punctuation, and Style (Harvard)

Grammar

Punctuation

Style

Guides to Grammar and Usage

Dictionaries and Encyclopedia

Library Resources

Multilingual Writers

General Resources

Grammar and Usage

  • The English Zone includes links for grammar, verbs, vocabulary, spelling, idioms, conversation, study skills, reading and writing, as well as such cultural issues as jokes and holidays; the GrammarZone has quizzes of varying difficulty (easy to difficult) for common grammatical elements.
  • Dr. Grammar - Frequently Asked Questions
  • The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation contains links for both grammar and punctuation.
  • Purdue University OWL (Online Writing Lab) Grammar Exercises: offers multiple-choice grammar exercises for common problems in usage.
  • The University of Ottawa's Punctuation page describes specific elements of punctuation and offers review quizzes.
  • Guide to Grammar & Writing is a usable index to issues of English grammar for the sentence, paragraph, or essay; also includes "interactive" quizzes on different grammatical elements; a listing of common grammatical errors; and "Ask Grammar," which will answer individual questions.

    • Writers with Disabilities

    If you have a disability that may require accommodation, please contact Rick Webb in the Office of Disability Services.

    Resources for Haverford Students

    General Resources

    • The Heath Resource Center is a "national clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities." Their site includes information about Heath, articles from current newsletters, FAQs, links to additional resources, and a list of publications, including 1999 College Freshman with Disabilities, a Biennial Statistical Profile.
    • Postsecondary Education at LD Online provides advice for students with learning disabilities and links to information and articles about achieving a successful college experience.
    • KidSource Online provides statistical information from the Heath Resource Center and information and resources for students with Attention Deficit Disorder.
    • The National Attention Deficit Disorder Association is a broadly comprehensive site with links to research, treatment, coaching, school and ADD, work and career, and books on ADD.

    Resources for Faculty

    • Teaching Students with Disabilities, at UC Berkeley, contains specific suggestions for teaching students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, chronic illness, ADHD, deafness, mobility impairments, and visual disabilities. This information will be of interest both to faculty members and to students with disabilities.
    • The website of the Association of Higher Education and Disability includes a list of publications related to college students with disabilities.

     


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