Dr. Matt Kuefler

13. INCLUDING NOTES FOR
ALL INFORMATION AND IDEAS

Why do I need to provide notes if I am not quoting?

Notes not only tell your reader the precise location in your source where quotation can be found, although they do that. They also tell your readers where information or ideas are found, if that information or those ideas are not your own. When you use notes to indicate where you found information or ideas, you tell your readers that you are careful about crediting someone else's knowledge as well as their words. You also indicate to your readers that if they are doubtful about the accuracy of the information you've presented, they can always go back and look at the source where you got that information. Any errors in information provided, then, are not your own but come from your source.

Is there any type of information that does not require notes?

Information that is widely known is not usually credited to a note. This sort of information is so indisputable that it is generally assumed to be fact.

Example:

Widely known statements of information not needing notes:

Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher.

The Mongols came from central Asia.

Related statements that should be followed by notes, since they are not general knowledge:

Socrates believed that an unexamined life was not worth living.

The Mongols captured and overthrew the caliph of Baghdad in 1248.

Obviously, there is some leniency in deciding whether information not quoted needs a note or not. A general rule of thumb is this: if there is a precise location where you actually found this information, from your readings in the sources for the topic, then it is best to provide that location to your readers in a note.

Won't so many notes make it look as though none of the essay is my own work?

Not at all. First of all, your introduction and conclusion, as well as each of the topic sentences to your paragraphs, will be your own ideas. Second, many notes in a history essay will show your diligence in giving credit where credit is due, or in being as helpful as you can to those readers who might want to check your facts or get more information or further details about the things you discuss.