3, How to cite sources and use them responsibly

In the previous chapter, we discussed how to find evidence and evaluate the credibility of information sources. However, locating a reliable source does not mean you can simply extract information and drop it directly into your paper. You must also inform your readers about the origin of that information.

Suppose you are writing an article about urban redevelopment. You come across a report describing a sharp rise in commercial rents, and you use its findings to argue that urban renewal places pressure on independent businesses. While your argument may be sound, readers should still be able to ask questions such as: Who wrote this report? When was it published? What specific metrics did it measure? And where can I access the original evidence?

When is a citation required?

You must cite not only the direct words of other authors but also their ideas, arguments, data, unique interpretations, and research findings—even when you have paraphrased them in your own words. Images, charts, interview content, and other non-original materials also require proper attribution.

Generally, widely accepted common knowledge does not require a citation; however, specific or contentious claims do. For instance, the fact that "New York City consists of five boroughs" or that "Seattle is a city in King County" is considered common knowledge.

The necessity for citation varies depending on the context. For example, if your paper compares housing prices across different locations, the requirements may differ based on the specific comparison. Stating that "housing prices in New York are higher than in Tacoma" might be treated as common knowledge, given that New York is a major global metropolis while Tacoma is a smaller city in Washington State. In contrast, if your paper claims that "housing prices in New York are higher than in Tokyo," a rigorous academic paper should include a citation, specify the statistical criteria used, and provide the exact data—as both New York and Tokyo are major global metropolises.

Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing

There are three main ways to use another source. A direct quotation reproduces the author’s exact words, marks them as a quotation, and cites their location. A paraphrase expresses a particular idea in new language and sentence structure, while still crediting the source. A summary condenses a larger argument into its central points and also requires attribution.

Suppose you come across a sentence like this in a paper from Theodore Review and would like to use it:

“When commercial rents rise faster than local businesses’ revenues, independent shops may struggle to renew their leases.”

If you phrase it this way in your paper: 

"When business rents increase faster than local shops’ revenues, independent stores may have difficulty renewing their leases."

This version modifies a few words but largely retains the structure of the original text. This approach is often referred to as "patchwork writing," and if the borrowed language is not sufficiently distinguished, it may constitute plagiarism. Writing it as：

"A gap between rising rental costs and store income can threaten smaller businesses when their leases expire," 

then reconstructs the original meaning in a more independent way. However, changing the wording does not mean the original idea becomes yours; you must still provide a citation.

What is the correct citation format?

Different fields use different citation systems. MLA typically employs an author-page number format, while APA generally uses an author-date format. The Chicago style offers two systems: "Notes and Bibliography," often used in the humanities, and "Author-Date," frequently used in the social sciences. No single system is inherently more "academic" than the others. Please use the format required by your instructor or the target journal, and ensure consistency throughout your work. When you need to reference papers, platforms like JSTOR can automatically generate citations for you.

Automatic generation of citations formats on JSTOR

When you need to quote a long passage (typically exceeding three lines), you should use a block quote, with the entire quoted section indented, as shown in the image.