Citing a website source correctly is key to avoiding plagarism.
Most students today use the Internet for research instead of going to the library and combing through shelves of books and periodicals, as students did in the not-too-distant past. But then, using the Internet is far more convenient, providing a world of information that's only a few mouse-clicks away. The problem, though, is that many students are uncertain about cite information they find on websites, which has contributed to an increase in plagiarism; even when unintentional, plagiarism is considered a serious academic offense. Students can greatly decrease the chances of their committing this offense, if they learn correctly cite Internet sources.
Instructions
Referencing Information Found on the Internet
1. Create the reference page or works-cited page. If using APA, you should center the word "References," without the quotation marks, at the top of the page; however, if using MLA, you should title the page "Works Cited," again without the quotation marks. What information is required on this page? Basically, the same rule applies to websites that applies to print sources: You must provide enough information to enable your readers to locate the information themselves and to do so with relative ease.
2. Format the reference page according to MLA or APA guidelines:
For APA:
1. Include the retrieval date.
2. Do not enclose the URL in angle brackets.
3. Provide only the author's last name and first-name initial.
4. Capitalize only the first word, proper nouns and the first word following a colon.
5. Do not use quotation marks with article titles.
6. Italicize titles of longer publications, for example, books, newspapers, anthologies, and films.
For MLA:
1. Include the date you initially accessed the information, plus the date any changes were made to the information.
2. Enclose the URL in angle brackets.
3. Provide the author's first and last names.
4. Capitalize titles, following traditional guidelines.
5. Use quotation marks for article titles.
6. Underline titles of longer publications, for example, books, newspapers, anthologies, films, etc.
3. List the source on the reference page (APA) or works-cited page (MLA). As with print sources, bibliographical listings for online sources should contain such pertinent information as the author's name, title of the work, and date of publication; however, how this information is presented differs depending upon whether you are using APA or MLA formatting. Make certain that you do not combine the two formatting styles.
According to Jane E. Aaron, author of "The Little Brown Compact Handbook," when citing online sources in MLA style, you should include two items that are not required when citing print sources:
1. The date you first accessed the source as well as the date when the source was posted or updated. Moreover, on the works-cited page, you should place the posting date first, followed by the access date.
2. The electronic address (URL) must be enclosed in angle brackets.
Here is an example of an MLA works-cited listing for a website:
Smith, Jonathan. "Understanding the Business Mindset in Corporate America."
Los Alamos Times on the Web 5 Feb. 2010. 23 Feb. 2010 http://www.latimes.com/specials/news/people/smith.html>
Now, compare the MLA listing above with the following APA listing for the same source:
Smith, J. (2010) Understanding the business mindset in corporate America.
Los Alamos Times on the Web. Retrieved February 23, 2010, from http://www.latimes.com/specials/news/business/smith.html
4. Cite the source in the paper. In the body of the paper, you must include in-text citations (parenthetical documentation) to let the reader know which are your words or ideas and which words or ideas belong to the sources listed on the reference or works-cited page.
Here are some examples of various ways to cite a direct quotation from a website, along with an example of a paraphrase:
1. MLA Style:
a. According to Jonathan Smith, business writer for the Los Alamos Times, "The mindset that is most prevalent in corporate America today is one fueled by greed, although it isn't so much greed for money as for absolute power" (par. 3).
b. "The mindset that is most prevalent in corporate America today is one fueled by greed, although it isn't so much greed for money as for absolute power" (Smith par. 3).
c. Although many people think that money is the main motivating factor in today's corporate America, in reality, it's not money at all but the desire for power---absolute power (Smith, par. 3). [This is a paraphrase.]
2. APA Style:
a. According to Jonathan Smith (2010), business writer for the Los Alamos Times, "The mindset that is most prevalent in corporate America today is one fueled by greed, although it isn't so much greed for money as for absolute power" (par. 3).
b. "The mindset that is most prevalent in corporate America today is one fueled by greed, although it isn't so much greed for money as for absolute power" (Smith, 2010, par. 3).
c. Although many people think that money is the main motivating factor in today's corporate America, in reality, it's not money at all but the desire for power---absolute power (Smith, 2010). [This is a paraphrase.]
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