XIII. Parenthetical Documentation

Parenthetical references are used to tell readers as they are looking at the research paper that the student has obtained the information from a particular source. The parenthetical references gives the reader the first word that appears on the works cited entry. That word is usually the author's last name and then is followed by the page number. For example, a paragraph in which the student uses information from page 32 of A War Imagined by Samuel Hynes, the reference would appear like (Hynes 32). The readers will know what book it is when they turn to the works cited page of the paper. The works cited entry would read:



The following is a run-down of how to use parenthetical references for a variety of traditional sources.

Documenting a source with an author

"Approximately 70% of all high school students graduate knowing what career they want to
go into after college" (Smithers 27).

Documenting a source without an author

"The raising of the speed limit has had massive effects on highway accident fatalities in this country" ("Changing Speeds, Changing History" 72).

Note: this example is for some type of article.

Documenting a source which uses another source

"Many scholars believe that Shakespeare did not write many of the plays ascribed to him. This is utter nonsense" (French qtd. Fontenrose 75).

Documenting paraphrases

One of the possibilities suggested was that a new system should be derived which will allow students to have academic freedom in choosing their courses while, at the same time making the course they chose more rigorous. The effect of such a system could empower and inspire students at the same time (Jacobson 18).

For quotes longer than four lines, students should use a block indent style; however, we encourage students instead of using long quotes, to paraphrase. Paraphrasing should give the reader a better opportunity to digest the source material.

 
 
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