The Importance of Documentation

It is difficult to overstate the need to document one's sources when writing for university courses. Proper documentation allows the instructor to evaluate the kinds of materials students use in preparing their class projects. Sources can range from interviews with different people to popular television programs and films, from highly technical academic journal articles and monographs to trade paperbacks, newsstand magazines, and the Internet. While each has its appropriate place, each must also be considered in light of its merit as a reliable source.

For example, while People magazine may provide information on who was seen where with whom wearing what, it would not be considered an analysis of the sociology of celebrity. For that, one might turn, for example, to articles in the American Sociological Review. Similarly, the vast majority of the data available over the Internet must be carefully scrutinized before being accepted and used in a class project. Some data, such as that provided by the American Religion Data Archive is extremely reliable and conforms to the highest standards of social scientific research; on the other hand, whether by accident or intent, many sites claim expertise in an area but lack any adequate credentials for that claim.

Proper attention to documentation helps writers avoid claiming the work of another as their own. When this happens, it is known as "plagiarism," and can occur either intentionally or unintentionally. One of the tell-tale signs of plagiarism in student essays is writing that is significantly different in some parts of the paper than in others. Plagiarism is theft and is to be avoided at all costs. Thorough documentation of one's sources will aid in this.

Quoting from another's work

When using print sources, here are a few general rules of thumb for including the work of another in your paper:

(a) If you are quoting, the quote must be an exact replica of the original. Retain original spelling, punctuation, and grammar within the quote. If you are paraphrasing, that is, putting the work of another into your own words, you must still acknowledge the source.

(b) For direct quotes that are less than 60 words long, enclosed them in double quotation marks ("") at each end of the quote. For example: "The cat in the hat sat on the mat." After each quote, you will include the appropriate reference.

(c) Direct quotes that are longer than 60 words do not take double quotation marks. They are either single indented (indented five or so spaces in from the main text), or double indented (indented from the left and right five or so spaces). These too require an appropriate reference.

(d) Paraphrases require documentation, but are not indented and do not take quotation marks.

Documentation Styles

There are a number of documentation styles available. Below are examples of the most common: Modern Language Association (MLA), the American Psychological Association (APA), and The Chicago Manual of Style. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and while I prefer the Chicago in-line format, I am less concerned which one of these you use than that you use it consistently and correctly.

Each documentation style has two components: the textual references that occur in the main body of the paper, and the bibliography or "Works Cited" list which comes at the end; entries in the first component must always be matched with entries in the second. If you are using in-line parenthetical references, these function as a kind of shorthand which directs the reader to a full bibliographic reference included in your citation list. The Chicago style also allows for references given as footnotes (those which occur at the bottom of the page) or endnotes, which are placed at the end of the document right before the "Works Cited" list. I find that in-line, parenthetical references are much quicker to use and less complicated to learn.

What follows are the basic citation formats undergraduate students can expect to encounter and use. For other formats (e.g., conference papers, government documents, theses and dissertations) students should consult on of the style guides listed below.

Modern Language Association (MLA)

In MLA style, in-line references usually consist of the author's last name and the page number on which the reference is found. They follow the quote immediately outside the quotation marks. In the following examples, the in-line citation is given with the appropriate bibliographic reference immediately below.

One Author

(Berger 55)
Berger, Peter. The Sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion. New York: Anchor Books, 1967.

If your reference list contains more than one author with the same last name, include the first initial or first name in the in-line citation.

(P.Berger 55) or (Peter Berger 55).

If your reference list includes more than one work by the same author, include an abbreviated title in the in-line citation.

(Berger, Sacred Canopy, 55).

Two Authors

(Hexham and Poewe 122)

Hexham, Irving, and Karla Poewe. New Religions as Global Cultures: Making the Sacred Human. Boulder, CO:

Westview Press, 1997.

Collection: One Editor

(Richman 145)

Richman, Paula, ed. Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia. Berkeley and Los

Angeles: University of California Press, 1991.

Collection: Two Editors

(Denny and Taylor 98)

Denny, Frederick M., and Rodney L. Taylor, eds. The Holy Book in Comparative Perspective. Columbia, SC: University

of South Carolina Press, 1985.

Chapter in an Edited Collection

(Ray 154)

Ray, Reginald A. "Buddhism: Sacred Text Written and Realized." Eds. Frederick M. Denny and Rodney L. Taylor. The

Holy Book in Comparative Perspective. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1985. 148-80.

Translation

(Cipriani 202)

Cipriani, Roberto. Sociology of Religion: An Historical Introduction. Trans. Laura Ferrarotti. New York: Aldine de

Gruyter, 2000.

Academic Journal Article

(Cowan 9)

Cowan, Douglas E. "'What's In It For Us?' Notes on Membership and Commitment." Touchstone 18.2 (2000): 7-21.

Magazine Article

(WindDancer 31)

WindDancer, Cybele. "Solitary Mystical Practice." Connections. Fall 2000: 30-3.

For more information, see Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, or the MLA Online.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Unlike MLA style, in-line references in APA style usually consist of the author's last name and the year in which the source was published. They still follow the quote immediately outside the quotation marks, however page numbers are not usually included.

One Author

(Berger, 1967)
Berger, P. (1967). The Sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion. New York: Anchor Books.

If your reference list includes more than one work by the same author, the references should be listed chronologically, beginning with the oldest.

Berger, P. (1961). The Noise of Solemn Assemblies. New York: Doubleday.

Berger, P. (1967). The sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion. New York: Anchor Books.

If your reference list includes more than one work by the same author published in the same year, rank the titles alphabetically and add "a," "b," "c," etc. to the date. E.g., (1998a), (1998b), (1998c).

Two Authors

(Hexham & Poewe, 1997)

Hexham, I., & Poewe, K. (1997). New Religions as Global Cultures: Making the Sacred Human. Boulder, CO:

Westview Press.

Collection: One Editor

(Richman, 1991)

Richman, P. (Ed.) (1991). Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia. Berkeley and Los

Angeles: University of California Press.

Collection: Two Editors

(Denny & Taylor, 1985)

Denny, F.M., & Taylor, R.L. (Eds.) (1985). The Holy Book in Comparative Perspective. Columbia, SC: University of

South Carolina Press.

Chapter in an Edited Collection

(Ray, 1985)

Ray, R.A. (1985). Buddhism: Sacred Text Written and Realized. In F.M. Denny and R.L. Taylor, The Holy Book in

Comparative Perspective. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press.

Translation

(Cipriani, 2000)

Cipriani, R. (2000). Sociology of Religion: An Historical Introduction. (Laura Ferrarotti, Trans.) New York: Aldine de

Gruyter.

Academic Journal Article

(Cowan, 2000)

Cowan, D.E. (2000). 'What's In It For Us?' Notes on Membership and Commitment. Touchstone, 18 (2), 7-21.

Magazine Article

(WindDancer, 2000)

WindDancer, C. (2000, Fall). Solitary Mystical Practice. Connections, pp.30-3.

Because APA style does not require page numbers included with the textual references, I would prefer students use another style.

For more information, see Harold Gelfand and Charles J. Walker, Mastering APA Style: Student's Workbook and Training Guide, or the American Psychological Association.

The Chicago Manual of Style

In my opinion, the Chicago in-line citation system overcomes both of the shortcomings presented by the MLA and APA styles. Each citation follows the quote, outside of the quotation marks, and includes the author's last name, the year in which the work was published, and the page or pages from which the quote is taken.

One Author

(Berger 1967: 55)
Berger, Peter. 1967. The Sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion. New York: Anchor Books.

If your reference list includes more than one work by the same author, the references should be listed chronologically, beginning with the oldest.

Berger, Peter. 1961. The Noise of Solemn Assemblies. New York: Doubleday.

_____. 1967. The sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion. New York: Anchor Books.

If your reference list includes more than one work by the same author published in the same year, rank the titles alphabetically and add "a," "b," "c," etc. to the date. E.g., (1998a), (1998b), (1998c).

Two Authors

(Hexham and Poewe 1997: 122)

Hexham, Irving, and Karla Poewe. 1997. New Religions as Global Cultures: Making the Sacred Human. Boulder, CO:

Westview Press.

Collection: One Editor

(Richman 1991)

Richman, Paula, ed. 1991. Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia. Berkeley and Los

Angeles: University of California Press.

Collection: Two Editors

(Denny and Taylor 1985)

Denny, Frederick M., and Rodney L. Taylor, eds. 1985. The Holy Book in Comparative Perspective. Columbia, SC:

University of South Carolina Press.

Chapter in an Edited Collection

(Ray 1985: 154)

Ray, Reginald A. 1985. "Buddhism: Sacred Text Written and Realized." In The Holy Book in Comparative Perspective,

eds. Frederick M. Denny and Rodney L. Taylor, 148-80. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press.

Translation

Cipriani 2000: 202)

Cipriani, Roberto. 2000. Sociology of Religion: An Historical Introduction. Trans. Laura Ferrarotti. New York: Aldine de

Gruyter.

Academic Journal Article

(Cowan 2000: 9)

Cowan, Douglas E. 2000. "'What's In It For Us?' Notes on Membership and Commitment." Touchstone, 18 (2): 7-21.

Magazine Article

(WindDancer 2000: 32)

WindDancer, Cybele. 2000. "Solitary Mystical Practice." Connections (Fall): 30-3.

For further information, see The Chicago Manual of Style.