The Rowman & Littlefield Guide to Writing with Sources

by James P. Davis

Overview

The Rowman & Littlefield Guide to Writing with Sources offers the most thorough and up-to-date discussion of plagiarism and the proper use of sources available today. The new edition incorporates the latest revisions to MLA, CSE, and CMS styles and the lexicon of electronic materials. This succinct and accessible handbook helps writers of all levels to assess, quote, cite, and present information from a variety of sources, including electronic and Internet sources. It features samples, updated throughout, of writing and style sheets, as well as a checklist for quoting and paraphrasing, to help strengthen writing in any field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442205697
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	11/17/2011
Edition description:	Fourth Edition
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

James P. Davis is associate professor at Denison University, where he teaches English and cultural studies.

Table of Contents

The Challenges of Academic Writing in the Age of Misinformation
Questions of Authorship and Authority
Evaluating Sources and Entering the Dialog
Decisions to Make
Plagiarism
Popular Style Manuals
Elements Required in a Citation
When Do You Need to Acknowledge a Source?
Material from Classroom Discussion
Common Knowledge
Using Textbooks as Sources
Using Sources in Class Presentations
When Should You Paraphrase and When Should You Quote?
How Should You Paraphrase Information from a Source?
Selecting Information from Your Source
Giving Credit to Your Source
The Importance of Accuracy in Paraphrasing
How Should You Quote Material from a Source?
How Much to Quote
How to Present a Quotation
How to Show Additions and Deletions in a Quotation
Writing about Literature
How Should You Punctuate Quotations?
Introducing a Quotation
Ending a Quotation
Presenting Quotations within Quotations
Punctuating Titles
Quoting Poetry
Quotation Marks and Other Punctuation
How Should You Select and Cite Electronic and Internet Sources?
Source Reliability: A Sample Topic
Citing Internet Websites
Other Electronic Sources
A Further Note about Style Manuals
Revision Checklist for Quoting and Paraphrasing
Appendix: Internet Resources
Works Cited

Editorial Reviews

Despite its compact size, this volume by Davis (Denison Univ.) offers much information. The first chapter provides an in-depth look at evaluating electronic sources, plagiarism, elements of a citation, and popular style manuals. Chapter 2 discusses various ways one acquires knowledge—from observations, experiences, and class discussions/presentations—and when one needs to credit the source. Other chapters provide guidance in paraphrasing and in citing books, articles, and electronic resources. Also featured is a chapter on how to present quotations and what punctuation to use. The book's appendix lists useful websites that will help with both writing skills and citation formats. The real value of this book is evident in its discussion of the selection of materials to use in writing papers, the evaluation of sources selected for the paper (particularly web sources), and the basic process of writing a paper. This is a good, basic guide for beginning writers. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and two-year technical program students; general audience.

Choice Reviews

This is a useful reference and I especially appreciate the user-friendly organization that will allow writers to easily locate information on quoting and paraphrasing properly. There is much more here than just a style guide. In addition to addressing the mechanics of citation, this book answers questions that beginning writers should be asking, like "when is quoting better than paraphrasing?" and "how trustworthy is this source?"

Teresa Fishman

Despite its compact size, this volume by Davis (Denison Univ.) offers much information. The first chapter provides an in-depth look at evaluating electronic sources, plagiarism, elements of a citation, and popular style manuals. Chapter 2 discusses various ways one acquires knowledge—from observations, experiences, and class discussions/presentations—and when one needs to credit the source. Other chapters provide guidance in paraphrasing and in citing books, articles, and electronic resources. Also featured is a chapter on how to present quotations and what punctuation to use. The book's appendix lists useful websites that will help with both writing skills and citation formats. The real value of this book is evident in its discussion of the selection of materials to use in writing papers, the evaluation of sources selected for the paper (particularly web sources), and the basic process of writing a paper. This is a good, basic guide for beginning writers. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and two-year technical program students; general audience.

Choice

Despite its compact size, this volume by Davis (Denison Univ.) offers much information. The first chapter provides an in-depth look at evaluating electronic sources, plagiarism, elements of a citation, and popular style manuals. Chapter 2 discusses various ways one acquires knowledge—from observations, experiences, and class discussions/presentations—and when one needs to credit the source. Other chapters provide guidance in paraphrasing and in citing books, articles, and electronic resources. Also featured is a chapter on how to present quotations and what punctuation to use. The book's appendix lists useful websites that will help with both writing skills and citation formats. The real value of this book is evident in its discussion of the selection of materials to use in writing papers, the evaluation of sources selected for the paper (particularly web sources), and the basic process of writing a paper. This is a good, basic guide for beginning writers. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and two-year technical program students; general audience.

CHOICE

The concise Rowman & Littlefield Guide to Writing with Sources is very clearly organized and readable, with excellent examples—particularly those about incorporating cited material into prose.

Jay Hamilton

The Rowman & Littlefield Guide to Writing with Sources is a handy, reference guide that will prove invaluable to both high school and university students, as well as for academicians and writers needing a refresher course on how to properly cite sources . . . I highly recommend this book to writers of every ilk, and as an essential resource for students in every academic discipline.

The Athenaeum