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Westchester Community College Harold L. Drimmer Library

Prof. Ramsay - Eng. 102 - FALL 2024: In-text Citations

What is an In-Text Citation?

In-text citations are brief references within the body of your paper. The purpose of an in-text citation is to direct the reader to the full entries on your works cited page. 

In-texts citations create a path from:

  • the author's original work (the source) to
  • your paper using in-text citations to
  • your Works Cited page.

NOTE:  Every source you use MUST have both an in-text citation within the body of your paper and a full citation on your works cited page.

In-Text Citations for Number of Authors

One author (Wong 58)

Two authors (Lopez and Pabla 175)

Three or more authors (Friel, et al. 621)

When to Use an In-Text Citation?

Use an in-text citation in your paper when you directly quote an author or when you paraphrase (putting the author's ideas into your own words). 

Note: The in-text citations are the same regardless of whether you quote or paraphrase.

 

Example: direct quote

“Dr. King called nonviolence an active and courageous form of resistance. He believed that nonviolent resisters should be physically passive and accept suffering without retaliation. Just as importantly, resisters were also to be spiritually, emotionally, and mentally engaged in persuading their opponents” (Galindo 44).

 

Example: paraphrase

Dr. King believed that it was essential for protesters to be nonviolent. They should peacefully attempt to persuade their opponents to change their views even if this meant that protesters had to suffer physical retaliation (Galindo 44).


Example: full entry on works cited page

 

Galindo, René. “The Functions of Dreamer Civil Disobedience.” Texas Hispanic Journal of Law & Policy, vol. 24, fall 2017, pp. 41–60. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=a9h&AN=132179395&site=ehost-live.

 

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