How to Do EVIDENCE & CITATIONS in Essays | In-Text Citations MLA & APA
TLDRThis video teaches advanced writing skills for English-speaking students, focusing on incorporating evidence into essays. It explains what evidence is, how to find reliable sources, and the importance of using evidence to support ideas. The video also covers paraphrasing versus quoting, citation styles (MLA and APA), and how to avoid repetition when adding evidence to essays.
Takeaways
- π Evidence in essays is crucial for supporting ideas and should come from reliable sources like textbooks and newspapers.
- π Evidence should be trustworthy and directly related to the idea it supports, enhancing the credibility of the essay.
- π The majority of an essay should be the writer's own discussion, with evidence used to strengthen and validate points.
- π Evidence can include statistics or expert opinions, and it's important to ensure it aligns with the writer's perspective.
- π When using evidence, it's common for about 25% of a paragraph's sentences to be evidence, not exceeding 50%.
- π Deciding whether to paraphrase or quote is an important step; paraphrasing is preferred but quoting can be used in specific situations.
- π Paraphrasing involves rewriting the source's idea in the writer's own words, which can be challenging but is a valuable skill.
- π There are three main scenarios to use quotes: when the language is particularly beautiful, spoken by a famous person, or contains complex terminology.
- π Citations are necessary to indicate the source of the evidence and are formatted differently depending on whether MLA or APA style is used.
- π For online sources, if no author is listed, the name of the organization can be used, and the year of publication is cited instead of page numbers.
- π A comprehensive list of all sources, called Works Cited in MLA or References in APA, should be included at the end of the essay.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video script?
-The main topic of the video script is teaching how to add evidence to essays, which is an advanced writing skill necessary for academic success in English-speaking countries.
Why is adding evidence to essays considered important in academic writing?
-Adding evidence to essays is important because it supports the writer's ideas, proves the validity of their arguments, and helps to achieve better grades in academic assessments.
What does the script define as 'evidence' in the context of writing?
-In the context of writing, 'evidence' is defined as information that proves that something is true, similar to how evidence is used in a courtroom to prove a case.
What are considered reliable sources for finding evidence in an essay?
-Reliable sources for finding evidence in an essay include textbooks, newspaper articles, and expert opinions, which are known to be trustworthy and informative.
How much of an essay should be dedicated to evidence according to the script?
-According to the script, evidence should make up about 25% of the sentences in a paragraph, but not more than 50%, to support the writer's own discussion of the topic.
What are the two main ways to use evidence from a source in an essay?
-The two main ways to use evidence from a source in an essay are paraphrasing, where the idea is rewritten in the writer's own words, and quoting, where the sentence is copied exactly as it is from the source.
Why is paraphrasing preferred over quoting when adding evidence to an essay?
-Paraphrasing is preferred over quoting because it requires the writer to engage more deeply with the source material and present it in their own words, which can help to avoid plagiarism and demonstrate understanding.
Under what three circumstances is it acceptable to use a quote instead of paraphrasing?
-It is acceptable to use a quote instead of paraphrasing when the sentence is said with very beautiful or special language, when it was spoken by a famous person, or when the sentence includes difficult words and specific terminology that is hard to paraphrase.
What is the purpose of a citation when adding evidence to an essay?
-The purpose of a citation is to provide information about the source of the evidence, allowing the reader to locate the original material and verify the evidence used in the essay.
What are the differences between MLA and APA citation styles as mentioned in the script?
-In MLA style, citations include the author's last name and the page number, while in APA style, citations include the author's last name and the year of publication. APA does not typically include page numbers for paraphrases from books.
How should sources from the internet be cited in an essay according to the script?
-For sources from the internet, if there is no author listed, the title of the article or the organization's name can be used. There are no page numbers, but the year of publication is included, or 'n.d.' if the year is not available.
What is the final step mentioned in the script for incorporating evidence into an essay?
-The final step mentioned in the script is to compile all the sources used in the essay into a list at the end of the document, called 'Works Cited' in MLA or 'References' in APA.
Outlines
π Introduction to Adding Evidence in Essays
The video script begins with an introduction to the importance of adding evidence to essays, a crucial skill for academic success in English-speaking environments like the United States. The speaker emphasizes that while it may not be the most exciting topic, it is essential for students to feel more comfortable and achieve better grades in their classes. The concept of evidence is likened to its use in a courtroom, where it serves to prove the truth of a claim. The script encourages students to seek out reliable sources, such as textbooks and newspaper articles, and to use evidence to support their ideas, making up about 25% of their paragraph content.
π Finding and Using Evidence in Essays
This paragraph delves into the specifics of how to incorporate evidence into essay writing. It advises students to first find a piece of evidence that supports their ideas from reliable sources, such as sentences or statistics. The script provides an example of using crime rate statistics to argue that a city is safe. It also discusses the decision between paraphrasing and quoting, with paraphrasing being the preferred method unless the original sentence is exceptionally well-written, spoken by a famous person, or contains complex terminology that is difficult to paraphrase. The importance of ensuring the evidence is directly related to the idea is highlighted, along with the need for careful reading to avoid misinterpretation.
βοΈ Citing Evidence with MLA and APA Styles
The script provides a detailed explanation of how to cite evidence in essays using both MLA and APA styles. It uses a student's essay about malaria as an example, demonstrating how to paraphrase a statistic from a textbook and incorporate it into the essay with proper citation. The paragraph explains the use of signal phrases, author names, page numbers, and the abbreviation 'et al.' for multiple authors in MLA style. It contrasts this with APA style, which omits the page number for paraphrases and includes the year of publication instead. The script also offers alternative ways to introduce evidence to avoid repetition, such as using the article title or beginning with a verb like 'state' or 'claim'.
π Handling Online Sources and Finalizing Citations
The final paragraph addresses the unique considerations for citing evidence from online articles, which often lack authors and page numbers. It advises using the organization's name if no individual author is listed and emphasizes the importance of including the year of publication or 'n.d.' if the year is not available. The script concludes with a summary of the key steps for incorporating evidence into essays: finding relevant evidence, deciding on paraphrasing or quoting, including citations, and compiling a list of sources for the Works Cited or References page. The speaker encourages students not to be intimidated by the process, to practice, and to utilize available online resources for further guidance.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Evidence
π‘Reliable Sources
π‘Paragraph
π‘Paraphrase
π‘Quote
π‘Citation
π‘MLA Style
π‘APA Style
π‘Works Cited
π‘Practice
Highlights
Introduction to the importance of adding evidence to essays for academic success.
Definition of evidence in the context of essay writing.
The significance of using evidence from reliable sources.
How to integrate evidence into essay paragraphs effectively.
The recommended proportion of evidence in paragraphs.
Finding evidence that supports essay ideas from credible sources.
The decision between paraphrasing and quoting evidence.
Guidelines for paraphrasing in English as a second language.
When to use quotes instead of paraphrases.
The process of adding evidence to a paragraph with an example.
The role of citations in providing evidence source information.
Differences between MLA and APA citation styles.
Using different structures to introduce evidence without repetition.
Citing sources from the internet with no page numbers.
Creating a list of sources used in the essay (Works Cited or References).
Encouragement and advice for students on adding evidence to their essays.
Transcripts
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