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The Ultimate Guide to Citing Articles in Essays: When and How to Do It Right
When citing an article in an essay, it is important to follow the correct format to avoid plagiarism and give proper credit to the author. Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's work without giving them credit, which can have serious consequences, such as failing a class or even being expelled from school.
Why Cite Sources?
There are many reasons why it is important to cite sources, including:
- To avoid plagiarism: Citing sources shows that you are giving credit to the original author and that you are not trying to pass off their work as your own.
- To give credit to the author: When you cite a source, you are giving credit to the author for their work. This is important because it shows that you respect their work and that you are not trying to take credit for it.
- To support your arguments: When you cite sources, you are providing evidence to support your arguments. This makes your arguments more credible and persuasive.
How to Cite an Article in an Essay
There are many different styles for citing sources, but the most common style used in academic writing is the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. To cite an article in an essay using MLA style, you will need to include the following information:
- Author's last name, first name.
- Title of the article in quotation marks.
- Title of the publication in italics.
- Volume number, issue number (if applicable), and page numbers.
- Date of publication.
Example
Here is an example of an MLA citation for an article:
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Smith, John. "The Importance of Citing Sources." The Writing Center Journal, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 12-15, 2020.
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FAQs
- Why is it important to cite sources?
- It is important to cite sources to avoid plagiarism, give credit to the author, and support your arguments.
- How do I cite an article in an essay?
- To cite an article in an essay using MLA style, you will need to include the author's name, the title of the article, the title of the publication, the volume and issue number (if applicable), the page numbers, and the date of publication.
- What is plagiarism?
- Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's work without giving them credit.
Key Takeaways
- It is important to cite sources to avoid plagiarism, give credit to the author, and support your arguments.
- To cite an article in an essay using MLA style, you will need to include the author's name, the title of the article, the title of the publication, the volume and issue number (if applicable), the page numbers, and the date of publication.
- Plagiarism is a serious offense that can have serious consequences.
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