I need your opinion on this. I'm writing a research paper with fairly long paragraphs. My teacher said we only need to cite once a paragraph if it is all from the same source, but I feel like that's not enough. Should I cite every line? (My essay is going on turn it in dott com so I don't want it to be considered plagarism if not every line is cited).
I would cite after every single quotation, paraphrase, and summary. If all the information in one paragraph is from one source, then the citation for any paraphrasing or summarizing could probably be done only once, but then that wouldn't be allowing for any of your own ideas that may be in that paragraph along with paraphrasing or summarizing other people's ideas. Whatever shows up in parentheses in the paragraphs, though, needs to be as brief as possible. (See below.)
Quotations need to be cited every time.
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You need to have each source of information cited in TWO places:
1. the Works Cited page that is placed after the last page of your paper, and
2. in parentheses in the text of your paper, immediately after the quotation or paraphrase.
For example, this would go on the Works Cited page (with proper indentation for the second and following lines):
Du Bois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk. Chicago, 1903. Project Bartleby. Ed. Steven van Leeuwen. Dec. 1995. Columbia U. 2 Dec. 2003
<www.cc.columbia.edu/acis/bartleby/dubois/>.
... and this would go immediately after the quotation or whatever:
(Du Bois)
The information in parentheses in the text needs to be as brief as possible. That's why there's a Works Cited page – for all the details of the listing.
When it comes to citing sources in a research paper, it's important to strike a balance between giving credit to the original authors and ensuring that your writing is not considered plagiarism. Citing once per paragraph is generally acceptable if the entire paragraph comes from the same source. However, if you have incorporated information or ideas from multiple sources within the same paragraph, it's a good practice to cite each individual source within the paragraph.
Citing every single line within a paragraph could be excessive and disrupt the flow of your writing. Instead, focus on accurately attributing any specific information, direct quotes, or ideas that are not your own. In-text citations should be used whenever you incorporate someone else's words or ideas, and a complete bibliography or reference list should be provided at the end of your paper.
To ensure that your paper meets the guidelines of platforms like Turnitin.com, where originality is assessed, make sure to follow correct citation practices. Additionally, remember to properly paraphrase or summarize information from your sources, as this demonstrates your understanding of the material and avoids plagiarism concerns.