Dom Taylor, MA, MLIS

Liaison Librarian

University of Manitoba Libraries

October 9, 2019

Catholic Studies Subject Guide

Julian: "Is the bank open on Saturdays?"​​

Me: "Yes!"

Julian: "How do you know??"

Me: "I was there last year, I think."

Julian: "Do you actually know? If I don't make a payment, I'll lose my apartment"

Me: "Oh...I don't actually know. Let's check online."

Getting around the world means you have to trust people. The question is how much trust you should give and why. This depends on context.

Julian: "Looks like a blizzard out. Are classes cancelled?"​​

Me: "Definitely!"

Julian: "How do you know??"

Me: "I looked out the window."

OR

Me: "I checked the university homepage."

I'M CITING SOMETHING

BUT

There are other equally important reasons to cite.

• Expressing yourself meaningfully requires shared rules.

• This is like a board game/ sport. You can modify or disregard some rules, but there comes a point when you are no longer playing the original game.

Following the citation game gives you some abilities by allowing for certain moves:

1. Duty/Obligation: 2-way obligation. If you take others' ideas seriously (by citing them), then people will take your ideas seriously.

2. Licence: Like a license to drive, but this is a license to put an idea forward/critique an idea. This license comes in different strengths. This strength is directly tied to the strength of the idea you are citing and how you explain it.

3. Legitimacy: How seriously people will take your claims depends on how well you use your licenses. The better (and more) connections you have to other ideas, the more likely people will take your ideas seriously.

1. Both are forms of citation.

2. Both require author and year, but quotes also require page numbers.

3. Quoting is especially useful when the author's terminology or wording is crucial. For most assignments, use quotes sparingly.

4. Paraphrasing is the default way to cite because it allows you to reframe the author's ideas.

5. If you are using the author's words or ideas, then CITE! Better to cite too much than too little.

ZotBib citation generator. This can handle multiple citation formats, including APA, but it isn't perfect, so verify the information using one of the following:

1. Purdue OWL (reference list and in-text) and/or CitationFox (reference list only).

2. Catholic Studies guide (some info for Catholic Studies-specific citation).

3. UM APA 1 pager (easy to use)

A

Building legitimate trust is the key to citation.

B

Keep in mind that you need to cite paraphrases AND quotations. If you're using an idea put forward by an author you read, cite this. It lends your own argument credibility.

C

• Only use peer-reviewed sources that you find in  the library search engine (unless you are using a source recommended by your professor--e.g., Vatican Website).
• The more legitimate your sources are, the stronger your claims will be (assuming you use the sources appropriately)

Use the resources above to format your citations.

DomTaylor, MA, MLIS

Catholic Studies, Philosophy, and Religion Librarian

dominique.taylor@umanitoba.ca

204.474.9184

Book an appointment

Catholic Studies subject guide