HOW AND WHEN TO USE PARENTHETICAL DOCUMENTATION

There are additional notes at the bottom of the page.

1.      When you use a direct quotation.

2.      When you copy a table, chart, map or picture.

3.      When you construct a table or diagram from data provided by others.

4.      When you summarize a discussion or idea of your own words.

5.      When you paraphrase an opinion that you have read.

6.      When you present specific evidence or facts that cannot be considered common knowledge or information that is known to all writers on the subject.  If you use facts that are basic or elementary knowledge to experts—even though the facts were totally new to you—you do not need parenthetical documentation.

7.      Do not document dictionaries, Biblical texts, and other very familiar works.

8.      Giving some information in the text can often shorten parenthetical documentation.

9.      Remember that a quotation by itself is seldom sufficient. AS an illustration or an additional comment, it may be effective with a short introduction; however, ordinarily it should be introduced and or followed by some kind of comment or explanation of your won that ties it in and makes it meaningful.  In other words, do not over0-depedn on someone else’s words to make the point clear.

10.  Well-written papers do not consist of a patchwork of little fragments of quotes.  Direct quotations should be limited to passages that have been so well stat4ed that your paraphrase would not be adequate.  This is not often the case.

Additional notes on Parenthetical Citations

1.      You must provide your reader with the author of the work you are referring to and the work’s date of publication.  This information can be contained within your sentence structure (in the narrative), or it can be added in parentheses at the end of the sentence or paragraph.  Using the author and date provided, your reader can then consult the Reference list to obtain further information on the source.

2.      If the name of the author appears as part of the narrative cite only the year of publication in parentheses. Otherwise, place both the name and the year, separated by a comma, in parentheses.  Even if the reference includes month and year, include only the year in the text citation.  In the rare case in which both the year and the author are given as part of the textual discussion do not add parenthetical information.

Walker (2000) compared reaction times. 

In a recent study reaction times were compared (Walker, 2000).

3.      In the case of two authors, always cite both names every time you cite the reference. 

The case was studied thoroughly by all the available doctors (Jennings & Taylor, 1997).

4.      With references with more than two authors but less than six, cite all authors the first time you reference a work.  On later citations of the same reference use the last name of the first author and et al. 

(Jennings et al., 1998).

5.      Cite two or more works in the same parentheses.

(James, 1998, 1999, 2000).

(Bennet, 1999; James 2000; Jones 2001).

6.      As you read a given source, you may find that the author has cited another source within his or her work.  For example, you are reading the work of Smith who has cited Jones.  Since you have the work of Smith, you are only in the position to refer to her work. 

Jones’ study found that the results of the survey were totally accurate (as cited in Smith, 2001).

7.      For citation of direct quotations always give page numbers for quotations.

(Simpson, 2000, p. 44).

8.      Long quotations of more than 40 words should be typed in a double-spaced block indented five spaces from the left margin.  No quotation marks are used.

According to Bellanca (1991), the rationale for teaching social skills includes the following:

We see the shift all around us.  For instance, we see how most major corporations weave teamwork, quality circles, vertical discussion teams, and other “we” approaches to participatory management into the fabric of their organizations.  In several of the top MBA programs, students are assigned team projects, work for team grades, and are evaluated for their team contributions. (p.8)

9.      For electronic sources that do not provide page numbers, use the paragraph number, if available, proceeded by the paragraph symbol or the abbreviation para.

(Myers, 2000, ¶ 5)

(Myers, 2000, para. 1)