Citing Sources

Issue #1:

Compare the following passages: (from Penguin Handbook 20c)

a) Even those who fought for the United States in the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846 were skeptical of American motives: “We were sent to provoke a fight, but it was essential that Mexico should commence it” (Grant 68).

b) Many soldiers who fought for the United States in the U.S.-Mexico War of 1846 were skeptical of American motives, including Civil War hero and future president Ulysses S. Grant, who wrote: “We were sent to provoke a fight, but it was essential that Mexico should commence it” (68).

What’s the difference? Which is better? Why?

Principle: (Usually) explain the source in the text itself. Give necessary context.

Sometimes the reader can understand enough about the source from the parenthetical information. If it’s really disruptive and awkward to provide the context of the source in the text itself, just cite afterwards with parentheses. This may be true when giving statistics or “hard facts.”

Issue #2:

What can a student do in a situation like this?

The first president was Hal Price Headly who purchased one hundred and forty-seven acres of Jack Keene’s property on Versailles Pike for one hundred thirty thousand dollars (Reed). One year later Keeneland had its first Open House, attracting over fifteen thousand people (Reed). This was the only year that they didn’t make any profit (Reed).

Reed, William F. Keeneland: A Half-Century of Racing. Louisville, KY: Harmony House, 1986. 17-20.

Try this:

In his book entitled Keeneland: A Half-Century of Racing, William Reed explains the early history of the track. Hal Price Headley, the first president of Keeneland, purchased one hundred and forty-seven acres of Jack Keene’s property on Versailles Pike for one hundred thirty thousand dollars. One year later, Keeneland had its first Open House, attracting over fifteen thousand people. This was the only year that they didn’t make any profit (17-20).

Principle: When citing a lot of material from the same source, try to “bookend” it: Introduce the source in the beginning, and end with a parenthetical citation.