Either way, the amount of time you devote to this book and these lessons will be time well spent. You will learn valuable techniques to help you write a good research paper on any topic. | LESSON 18 Adding Footnotes Endnotes and Parenthetical Citations LESSON SUMMARY This lesson will explain why it is so important to cite your sources. It will also show you how to document your sources using footnotes endnotes and parenthetical citations. In addition samples will be given for you to use as models. Citations either in the form of footnotes endnotes or parenthetical citations provide your reader with key information about the material you used for your research. As mentioned earlier any legitimate piece of analytical or research writing whether it is a book or paper must accurately list all sources that were consulted and it must give credit for information used in the text or the writing. If you do not credit your sources you are plagiarizing another s ideas or words. Citations are also important because they add credibility to your work. If for example you repeatedly refer to a set of speeches by John F. Kennedy and quote from these speeches word for word without acknowledging your source you would be plagiarizing or in effect stealing this information. In addition if your paper provides controversial information or facts that are not well known to most people and you do not document the source of this material readers might doubt the authenticity of your work and your credibility as a writer. Citations assure your reader that all of your information controversial or not well known or divulged for the first time comes from a specific source that can be referenced easily. Without citations an 85 ADDING FOOTNOTES ENDNOTES AND PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS analytical and historical paper might as well be a well-written story or work of fiction. Statements That Need Proper Citation Usually there are four basic categories of statements that need documentation in order for your work and analysis to be considered legitimate and professional. These types of statements are 1. Direct quotations any parts of speeches segments or passages quoted or taken from other .
