In academic writing, properly citing your sources is not just about avoiding plagiarism—it’s about giving credit where credit is due and enhancing the credibility of your work. One common challenge students face is how to effectively cite paraphrased information, especially when a paraphrase extends over several sentences. Understanding the nuances of citation placement ensures clarity and avoids misrepresenting the source material. This guide will provide a clear understanding of how to manage citations for paraphrased content, focusing on best practices for academic integrity and reader comprehension.
When you paraphrase an author’s ideas, you are essentially restating their thoughts in your own words. It’s crucial to acknowledge the original source, and the standard method is to include a citation. Typically, this citation appears at the end of the sentence or paragraph that contains the paraphrased material. However, complications can arise when a paraphrase spans multiple sentences. If the citation is only placed at the very end, it might become unclear to the reader which parts of the preceding text are directly derived from the source.
Consider this example from Naomi S. Baron, discussing literacy: “Literacy consists of both reading and writing. The writing might take the form of marking up a text or making notes about it” (Baron 194). If we were to paraphrase this and simply place the citation at the end, it could lead to ambiguity. For instance, writing: “Literacy encompasses both reading and writing activities. This writing aspect can include annotating texts or taking notes (Baron 194).” Here, a reader might mistakenly assume that only the second sentence is Baron’s idea, and that the first sentence is your original thought.
To enhance clarity and ensure proper attribution, especially with multi-sentence paraphrases, it’s often better to introduce the source author directly in your prose. Revising the example above for better clarity, we could write: “Naomi S. Baron argues that literacy consists of both reading and writing. She elaborates that this writing component can manifest as marking up a text or making notes about it (194).” By explicitly mentioning Naomi S. Baron at the beginning, it becomes immediately clear to the reader that both sentences are rooted in her argument. This approach removes any ambiguity about the source of the ideas presented.
This technique is particularly useful when you are drawing heavily from a single source over several sentences or even a short paragraph. By integrating the author’s name into your writing, you guide your reader and clearly demarcate where the source material begins and ends. This practice not only adheres to academic honesty but also strengthens the flow of your writing by smoothly integrating source material.
Different citation styles, such as MLA (Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association), have slightly different formatting guidelines but share the same core principle of clear attribution. Whether you are using MLA, APA, or another style, the emphasis should always be on making it transparent to your reader which ideas are yours and which are derived from external sources.
For those seeking further assistance in mastering citation and academic writing, resources are readily available. Writing centers and academic support services, like the Center for Academic Success, offer tutoring and review services to help students refine their citation practices and overall writing skills. These resources can provide personalized feedback and guidance, ensuring your academic work is both well-supported and ethically sound.
References
Ask the MLA. “If my paraphrase consists of several sentences, should a citation for the original source appear after each sentence?” MLA Style Center, 12 April 2018, https://style.mla.org/paraphrase-of-many-sentences/.
Baron, Naomi S. “Redefining Reading: The Impact of Digital Communication Media.” PMLA, vol. 128, no. 1, Jan. 2013, pp. 193-200.
Berkeley College. “Center for Academic Success.” Berkeley College, https://berkeleycollege.edu/student-life/student-support/cas/index.html.
Berkeley College. “WriteAid.” Transforms, https://transforms.berkeleycollege.edu/iFiller/iFiller.jsp?fref=e9e2a7ea-e1a7-4cc0-900a-db52ed5132d7&_ga=2.268042382.1067657825.1564496226-247601352.1563466512.
