English Composition

Information has Value

A person or organization that creates information invests time and effort into its creation. They may also invest money. In return for their investments, they gain rewards such as personal pride, professional recognition, influence, or profits. These are some of the values of information.

You receive value when you consume that information. You do so by gaining new knowledge and new perspectives. These are some other values of information. In return, ethical standards require you to give credit to the person or organization that created the information. Doing so protects their investment and acknowledges your debt to them. Not doing so is theft.

Scholarship is a Conversation

Scholars create research as part of a large, ongoing conversation. They create theories, conduct research, and then share the results so that others can review their work, offer input, and create new research based on the work they offer. Each scholar builds on the work of those who came before them.

When you create your own work, you become a part of the academic conversation. Citing your sources allows others to understand which work you are building upon and where your work fits into the larger conversation.

Professionalism

Researchers put a lot of time and effort into citations and references. As a result, accurate citations and references have become a sign of their professionalism and respect for others. When you take the time to accurately cite and reference your sources, you are demonstrating your own professionalism and respect for others, including your instructor and your classmates.

Academic Integrity

If none of the reasons above motivate you, remember this: Failure to cite sources is plagiarism and a violation of MCC's Academic Integrity Policy. This violation can cause damage to your grades, your academic progress, and your reputation. 

Remember

You have everything to gain by citing your sources--or everything to lose by not citing them. So, take the time to cite your sources and reap the rewards.

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Most English Composition courses require MLA Style, but review your assignment prompt to confirm the required citation style.

Need help understanding MLA Style? The links below lead to useful information.

Although this video states that you can use any font, most instructors prefer Times New Roman 12-point font. Review your assignment prompt to determine your instructor's preference.

Are you struggling to find research materials, use our library databases, or write citations and references? Our research librarians can help!

Just need a little help? Visit the Learning Commons' third-floor desk in the Learning Technology Center (LTC), or contact us via live chat or email. You can also call us at 254-299-8325.

Need a lot of help? Schedule a research consultation with one of our research librarians. It's their job to help you succeed!

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Academic Support and Tutoring (AST) provides free tutoring to MCC students (including writing and citation assistance) and free support and tutorials for college-related software.

AST offers in-person support in the Learning Commons, located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Learning Technology Center (LTC). You can also reach out to AST via phone, Zoom, or email.

Use the link above to learn more about AST and locate its contact information and hours. 

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If you need writing assistance, contact Academic Support and Tutoring to meet with a free writing tutor, or use the guides below.

Image of students' hands at laptop and with notebook courtesy of Zen Chung via Pexels.