Parenthetical+Citation+Guide

= Parenthetical Citation Guide =

What is a Parenthetical Citation?
Parenthetical citations are references to sources cited in the body of a paper. Parenthetical citations direct the reader to the full citation list on the Works Cited page (see example below). Parenthetical citations are also known as in-text citations, because they occur in the text of your paper, rather than at the end like the Works Cited list. Parenthetical citations are important because they tell the reader what sources you used in writing your paper and exactly where you used the sources in your paper.

At Waltham High School, we use MLA style to format our research papers and document our sources. The MLA style guide requires that you use parenthetical citations immediately after quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, or using a source's ideas. Below is an example of a parenthetical citation in MLA style.


 * Example:** Body of Paper

During the month of March the WHS Library circulated 2,300 books (Boninti 27).


 * Example:** Works Cited

Boninti, Kendall. The Circulation Habits of School Libraries. Boston: Book Lovers Press, 2009.

Tips to Successful Parenthetical Citations

 * 1. __Parenthetical citations should direct the reader to specific sources listed in the works cited.__**


 * Example**: Body of Paper:

The job of a library teacher is "difficult but rewarding" (Boninti 263).


 * Example:** Works Cited:

Boninti, K. The Joys of Being a Librarian. Boston: Book Lovers Press, 2007.


 * 2. __Parenthetical citations should be brief__.**

There a couple of different ways to keep the parenthetical citations brief. First, you can include the author's name in the body of your paper.


 * Example:** Body of Paper

According to Kendall Boninti, high school libraries are the "information centers of the school" (28).

Second, if the source has no author you can use a shortened version of the source's. MLA requires that you place "parentheses" around a shortened version of the title.


 * Example:** Body of Paper

Recent studies have shown that on average librarians have two household cats ("Cats" 3).


 * Example:** Works Cited:

Cats are a Librarian's Best Friend. Boston: Book Lovers Press, 2009.


 * 3. __When citing sources from the Internet or from electronic databases the same rules apply as if you were citing a non-Internet/electronic source.__**


 * Example:** Body of Paper

In her latest book Librarians Love Books, Boninti argues that today's librarians are still dedicated to printed word.


 * Example:** Works Cited

Boninti, Kendall. "Librarians Love Books." Waltham High School. 11 Dec. 2007.

WHS Inc.01 Dec. 2008


 * 4. __When in doubt - CITE IT!__**

If you're not sure whether or a source should be cited - cite it anyway.


 * 5. General knowlege does not need to be cited.**

General knowlege means information that everybody knows. For example, everybody knows that the sky is blue.

**Standard Author Format**
‘In-text' parenthetical citations - include the author's last name and the page number(s). A corresponding reference should appear on your Works Cited page. The author's name can be included in the sentence itself or it can follow the sentence in parentheses. The page number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text of your sentence.


 * Example:**

a. Boninti said that being a library teacher is a "difficult but rewarding job" (263). b. The job of a library teacher is "difficult but rewarding " (Boninti 263). c. Boninti found her job as library teacher to be challenging at times, but ultimatley rewarding (263).


 * Author Unknown**

When no author is provided, use the work's title. Underline titles of books and use "quotation marks" for titles of articles. Long titles can be shortened by using parentheses. NOTE: Sometimes it can be difficult to locate the author of a non-print source. Before deciding that a website has no author, make sure to search the small print at the very bottom of the website, as well as the website's home page.


 * Example:**

a. The old cliché of the mean shushing librarian, with her tight bun, pursed lips and black rimmed cat glasses, no longer fits the profile of today's librarians ("Librarians Are Cool" 24).

b. According to the article, "Librarians Are Cool," the old cliché of the mean shushing librarian, with her tight bun, pursed lips and black rimmed cat glasses, no longer fits the profile of today's librarians (24).

**Two or Three Authors**
Name all three authors in the sentence or include their last names in the parentheses at the end of the sentence.


 * Example:**

a. Boninti, Brennan, and Rots found that the majority of successful school library programs have certified library teachers (23).

b. Most successful school library programs have certified library teachers (Boninti, Brennan, and Rots 23).

**Four or More Authors**
Name all four authors or use the name of the first author followed by "et al." In Latin "et al." means "and others."


 * Example:**

a. According to Boninti, Guelli, Rots, and Brennan, high school students MCAS scores increase when they have active library programs in their school (48).

b. According to a recent study, high school students MCAS scores increase when they have active library programs at their school (Boninti, Guelli, Rotts, and Brennan 48).

c. According to a recent study, high school students MCAS scores increase when they have active library programs at their school (Boninti et al. 48).

**Authors with the Same Last Names**
When two or more authors have the same last name you must provide both authors' first initials. If the authors have the same initials, then you must provide both authors' full names.


 * Example:**

a. Up until recently, most library-teachers in Massachusetts graduated from Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science (K. Boninti 32). Simmons is a private college and tution can cost over $30,000 dollars a year. The recent downturn in the economy has forced many people to forgo private colleges for less expensive state schools, such as Salem State College (C. Boninti 12).

b. Up until recently, most library-teachers in Massachusetts graduated from Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science (K. Boninti 32). Simmons is a private college and tution can cost over $30,000 dollars a year. According to Cathy Boninti, the recent downturn in the economy has forced many people to forgo private colleges for less expensive state schools, such as Salem State College (12).

**Multiple Works by the Same Author**
If you are using two different works, written by the same author, you must include a shortened title for each particular work.


 * Example:**

a. Kendall Boninti has written that being a library-teacher is still all about the books ("Librarian are Cool" 263), but she has also acknowledged that the role of the library-teacher has changed to include technology instruction ("The Changing Librarian" 20).

If you do not include the author's name in the sentence, the parenthetical citation should include the following: author's name, "shortened title of the work," page number(s).


 * Example:**

b. In today's schools, the primary role of the librarian is to help students become "life long readers" (Boninti, "Librarians are Cool" 263).


 * Indirect Sources**

When you use an indirect source (i.e. A source cited in another source), use "qtd. in" to show which source you actually used.


 * Example:**

a. Boninti explains that "librarians have been forced to adapt to the new technology centered enviorment or risk becoming obsolete" (qtd. in Brennan 273).

**Electronic Sources**
NOTE: Do not ever put the URLs for websites in a parenthetical citation! URLs are only included in the Works Cited list.

When citing sources from the Internet or from electronic databases the same rules apply as if you were citing a non-Internet/electronic source. You use the author - or title if the author is not given in the parenthetical citation. Websites frequently do not have page numbers; therefore, you do not include page numbers in the parenthetical citation. Your teacher will be able to see what type of source was used (i.e. video/audio/website/database) by consulting your Works Cited list.


 * Example:** Body of Paper

The majority of librarians living in Massachusetts have at least a $5 fine at thier local public library (Librarians Love Books).


 * Example:** Works Cited

Boninti, Kendall. //Librarians Love Books//. Waltham High School. 11 Dec. 2007.

WHS Inc. 01 Dec. 2008.