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Okay, when you are writing a paper, let's say on something you have no idea of, but it includes facts, dates, names, events, etc., how do you know when you make a citation and when not to?
Let's say a book tells me "such and such happened on this day," should I cite it or not? It is a fact, and it's not something found exclusively in that book. I could have even been there to experience the event myself or have heard about the event from various sources. And you can't site common knowledge (unless you forcibly seach for a resource that conforms to what you had known all along.)
I have always cited only opinions and ideas, not facts. If I were to cite facts my papers would be drowning in numbers and parentheses (especially if it was for history).
I'm trying to rationalize this. But what is the common protocol for knowing when to cite something?
Last edited by mechanesthesia; 04/09/06 11:51 AM.
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Im a grammar and English teacher so I wouldn't know for sure; not that you got to be a teacher, I'm not a scholar either then.  But I would say that regular facts not from the author would not need cited. I would say if it was his theories or facts, then ya, I would cite them. But read my signature also.
~Ari
I'm not that smart, but I might be right.
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Quote:
Im a grammar and English teacher ...
And I'm the Queen of England. 
~~~~
mecha: why don't you ask your teacher? S/He may have certain preferences.
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I think there's a "not" missing, Your Majesty. 
formerly known as etaoin...
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"The source of any direct quotations in a scholarly text should be made clear to the reader in what the author says about it either in the text or in a note. Paraphrases of other writers' ideas should be acknowledged and sources of little-known facts given. Well-known facts, easily ascertainable from many sources, need no documentation."
~The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed. (1993), 2.108.
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Oh okay. Thanks Father Steve! I knew it. "Well-known" and "little-known" fact," it's one of those ambiguous, subjective things. Oh well, that makes me feel better. It's up to me what I think would be "well-known," and if I use any ideas or theories to cite them. Good, I don't have to worry about being thought of plagiarizing now.
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> Paraphrases of other writers' ideas should be acknowledged
yeahbut that's the crucial thing that's getting increasingly overlooked, and one that requires scrupulous care. If in doubt, cite.
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OH and also.
This is for an introductory class called "MIDI composition." It's online, and pretty much it seems like a ploy to get grades in.
I really haven't learned anything in that class.
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