Our Citation Philosophy

The posts on our blog so far have been analyses of other blogs. We have read a blog and analyzed its rhetorical features. Now, our focus will shift to more research-based posts. These will be very different from our previous posts. Instead of writing about our own observation, we will have to find facts. In order to do this we will research topics, find reliable sources, and make sure we cite each source used in the post.

When doing a research assignment, it is important to cite the sources where the information was pulled from. This is so whoever reads the research paper knows that the information is valid and came from a credible site. Another reason to cite sources, is to give credit to the original author. If you take credit for someone else's work, the legal problem of plagiarism will arise.

Legal issues that can come from improperly citing sources or not citing them at all can include copy right infringement, being sued, and can sometimes be deemed as a criminal offence and the plagiarizer can be jailed. These are some of the most severe repercussions and many not always happen. More common problems include destroyed academic or professional reputation, trouble with professors or boards of conduct, and monetary repercussions.

Since our blog is an offshoot of our English class, MLA seems to be the best choice for our citation style. This style is widely recognized and adhered to within the realm of academia. For all information coming from outside sources present in our blog, citations will be included at the end of the posts. Credit will be given whenever a direct quotation is used. In-text citations will also be present to guide the reader to the correct source listing at the end of the post. If the site is inaccessible without the URL, the URL will be listed at the end of the post.

To us, the importance of citing is most well seen in the credibility it will give to our blog. It is hoped that all content we choose to use and cite within our posts comes from credible and reputable cites. With the inclusion of information from these types of sources, the credibility of our own blog should increase.