Essay
S3doun89HIST 113: Islamic Civilization
Spring 2016
Citation Guide for Essay #1
Why Do We Need to Cite Our Sources?
When writing an essay, it is important to cite your sources for two main reasons. First, you need to tell the reader where you are getting your information and give them a way to retrieve or verify it. Second, and more importantly, you must give credit to others for their words and ideas. If you quote, paraphrase, cut/paste, or otherwise misrepresent someone else’s words or ideas as your own, you have committed plagiarism or academic dishonesty. There is a zero tolerance policy on plagiarism in place in this course. Students will receive a failing grade for the semester and will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Integrity on a first offense. For more information,visit: http://panther.indstate.edu/tutorials/plagiarism/introduction.html
Citing Your Sources in the Text
There are two options for citing your sources in the main body of your paper:
· Intertextual citations: You can use citations in parentheses in the text. When you quote or paraphrase a text, like al-Mawardi’s “On Choosing a Caliph,” put the author and page number in the main text like this (al-Mawardi, 22).
· Footnotes: Alternatively, you can use the References tab in Word to create footnotes like this.[footnoteRef:1] If you cite the same source twice in a row, use Ibid.[footnoteRef:2] Cite the source fully the first time you reference it.[footnoteRef:3] However, if you have already cited the source earlier in the essay, you can give a shorthand version.[footnoteRef:4] [1: Abd al-Hasan Ali al-Mawardi,“On Choosing a Caliph,” in Gettleman, Marvin E., and Stuart Schaar. The Middle East and Islamic World Reader (New York: Grove Press, 2003): 22.] [2: Ibid.: 23] [3: Allama al-Hilli, “On the Shiite Imamate,” in Gettleman, Marvin E., and Stuart Schaar, The Middle East and Islamic World Reader. (New York: Grove Press, 23): 25] [4: al-Mawardi, “On Choosing a Caliph,” 23.]
You may choose either of the above options, just be consistent! Whichever you choose, please also include a bibliography:
Bibliography
Abd al-Hasan Ali al-Mawardi. 2003. “On Choosing a Caliph,” in Gettleman, Marvin E., and Stuart Schaar. The Middle East and Islamic World Reader. New York: Grove Press.
Allama al-Hilli. 2003. “On the Shiite Imamate,” in Gettleman, Marvin E., and Stuart Schaar. The Middle East and Islamic World Reader. New York: Grove Press.