In-Text CitationsIn-Text Citations

Q: If the thesis statement in your Q: If the thesis statement in your paper is a theory or an opinion, paper is a theory or an opinion,

then why doesn’t it need citation?then why doesn’t it need citation?

A: It’s A: It’s youryour theory or opinion. theory or opinion.

• Does the following statement need citation?Does the following statement need citation?

Some have speculated that Shakespeare became Some have speculated that Shakespeare became quite wealthy during his career. quite wealthy during his career.

A: It’s A: It’s youryour theory or opinion. theory or opinion.

• Does the following statement need citation?Does the following statement need citation?

Some have speculated that Shakespeare became Some have speculated that Shakespeare became quite wealthy during his career quite wealthy during his career

Yes. This is theory. Yes. This is theory. WhoWho has speculated? has speculated?

You could also write it like this:You could also write it like this:

(Thompson 13).(Thompson 13).

A: It’s A: It’s youryour theory or opinion. theory or opinion.

• Does the following statement need citation?Does the following statement need citation?

Thompson has speculated that Shakespeare Thompson has speculated that Shakespeare became quite wealthy during his career (13).became quite wealthy during his career (13).

You could also write it like this:You could also write it like this:

Need Citation?Need Citation?

Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets, which Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets, which are 14-lined poems that follow a strict are 14-lined poems that follow a strict rhyme and meter.rhyme and meter.

Nope. This is fact.Nope. This is fact.

How about this one?How about this one?

Christopher Marlowe was every bit the Christopher Marlowe was every bit the equal of Shakespeare at the time of his equal of Shakespeare at the time of his death.death.

Maybe. Maybe not. This could be Maybe. Maybe not. This could be youryour conclusion after doing your research, in conclusion after doing your research, in which case you which case you would notwould not need citation. need citation.

One more. . . One more. . .

William Shakespeare coined over 2000 William Shakespeare coined over 2000 new words and phrases that are still new words and phrases that are still used today.used today.

Hmmm. . . This sounds like a statistic or Hmmm. . . This sounds like a statistic or fact, but it is a relatively unknown or fact, but it is a relatively unknown or obscure fact. Other sources use obscure fact. Other sources use different numbers. You should cite it. different numbers. You should cite it.

One more. . . One more. . .

William Shakespeare coined over 2000 William Shakespeare coined over 2000 new words and phrases that are still new words and phrases that are still used today.used today.

Hmmm. . . This sounds like a statistic or Hmmm. . . This sounds like a statistic or fact, but it is a relatively unknown or fact, but it is a relatively unknown or obscure fact. Other sources use obscure fact. Other sources use different numbers. You should cite it. different numbers. You should cite it.

One more. . . One more. . .

Try this:Try this:

According to Duncan, Shakespeare According to Duncan, Shakespeare contributed over 2000 words to the contributed over 2000 words to the English language that are still used English language that are still used today. today.