FYS162: Ambition & Adultery: Individualism in the 19th-Century Novel: Cite & Evaluate

• Remember to cite your souce, when either quoting directly or paraphasing. In other words, cite your source whenever you present an idea that isn't your own.
• Websites must be cited in your notes/bibliography, too; if you cut and paste - or paraphrase - from a website, cite the webpage.
• When in doubt, cite your source.
• Remember to include a context for each quotation/paraphrase. Who said it? Why does it matter? How does this support or contradict the argument you're making?

• Visit the SC Libraries' Citation Guides & Style Manuals page for specific style guides, most of which are online

Be careful using Google or other web search engines. Many websites contain biased, unreliable information. Library databases provide high-quality, up-to-date content from respected and reliable resources.

When evaluating resources, ask yourself the following:

Questions to ask:

• Is the source aimed at a general or specialized readership?
• Is the author an expert in the field?  If not, how extensive is the author's research?
• Is the publication put out by a scholarly association or by a popular press?
• Does the author cite the sources for conclusions (footnotes and/or bibliographies?)
• Is the emphasis placed on arousing your emotions or appealing to your reason?
• How current is the source?  If there is no date, consider that it may not reflect current information.