A student wants to know the correct MLA format for citing a source that she is not, technically, in the strictest sense of the term, actually using. Why, she wonders, doesn't the MLA guide tell her how to do this?
Well, that's a tough question. The issue arose when I read her draft and noticed that she credited about three sentences to a particular book without including page numbers. I pointed out that there's nothing easier than citing information from a book with one author: simply put the author's name and page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. We have covered this simple procedure throughout the semester, so what's the problem now?
The problem is that the student doesn't know where, exactly, the information appears in the book. And that's because she has not actually held the book, opened the book, or read the book, and it is not available in our library so there's no chance that she will do so now. She knows what the book talks about and wants to refer to it in broad, general terms, but she doesn't want to go to the trouble of actually reading the thing.
I tried to explain that a book that is not being used as a source cannot actually be cited as a source, but she's pointed out that she doesn't have enough sources to support her argument and she thinks this book would lend credibility.
I have no doubt that numerous students over the years have cited as sources books that they have not actually read, but at least those students were aware that they ought to be ashamed of themselves. This student sees nothing wrong with trying to improve the credibility of her argument by citing a book without ever opening the book.
Gee, I don't know why the MLA guide doesn't offer a way to accomplish that. If enough students complain, maybe they'll include it in the next edition.
2 comments:
I've often had the situation where a student remembers reading a book say last year and wants to use it in the same way as your student, but at least the student had once read the book (I hope anyway!). In those cases, though, the book is available so they have no choice but to trudge through it to find the page citation.
But this situation you describe? Haven't had that one yet! That's one to add to class discussion tomorrow. Thank you....
MLA does offer a way to cite someone else who's read the book.
How does she really know what's in the book if she hasn't read it. And why don't I have that super-power?
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