Using Information in your project

Common Knowledge (basic facts): piece of information that is repeated in multiple sources.

Your annotations should prove that you have seen that piece of information multiple times.

Common knowledge information is considered basic fact and does not need to be documented with an in-text citation.
*You do need to list the sources that prove that the information is common knowledge on your
   Works Cited and Consulted list.
*Common knowledge information does not include opinion. Opinions are NOT common knowledge.
*Common knowledge must be re-written in the student's words.
*NEVER QUOTE COMMON KNOWLEDGE, PUT IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

Bottom Line---If you see information more than once:
     *Annotate it in your own words
     *Document the sources for your Works Cited and Consulted list.
     *Common knowledge sources are NOT included on a Works Cited list.
     *When you use the information in your project, make sure that it is in YOUR words--NOT the source's!

Quotation: using someone's words--word for word in your project.

When you quote someone's words, place the passage you are using in quotation marks and include an in-text citation at the end of the sentence to let readers know from which source the information comes.

Quotes are used to create interest for the reader and are to be used sparingly!
*A quote should contain interesting opinions.
*A quote should be worded in a unique and interesting way.
*A quote should support the point YOU are trying to prove.

Bottom Line---Quotes (borrowing information word for word) must:
*Be marked by quotation marks
*Have an in-text citation at the end of the sentence
*The source of the quotation must be listed on your Works Cited and Consulted list.

Paraphrase: using someone's ideas and opinions, but putting them in your own words.

**This is probably the skill you will use most when incorporating sources into your writing.
**Although you use your own words to paraphrase, you must still document the source of the information.

Paraphrases will make up the majority of the information that you include in your project.
*Paraphrased information should support the point that YOU are trying to prove.
*Paraphased information should be unique information. Repeated information is common knowledge- see above.
*Paraphrases often are longer than 1 sentence long, so you need to clearly indicate where the parphrase starts
and stops.

Bottom Line---Paraphrases (re-wording borrowed unique information) must:
*Have an in-text citation at the end of the paraphrase.
*The source of the paraphrase must be listed on your Works Cited and Consulted list.