In-Text Citations
are also called
Parenthetical Citations
In-text citations (sometimes called 'parenthetical citations' because they are placed within parentheses) should show precisely where you used others' ideas and words in your essay.
In-text citations will list the first part of the Works Cited entry (e.g., an author's last name) and then the location (e.g., a page number).
If there is not an author of the article or book or website entry, you put the title of the source in quotation marks inside of those parentheses.
Punctuation (including a period at the end of the sentence) always goes after the parenthesis!
Gilman's use of first-person narration provides insight into the protagonist's descent into madness in her essay analyzing "The Yellow Wallpaper" ("Analyzing 'The Yellow Wallpaper'").
The Sound and the Fury is often praised for its narrative experimentation and Faulkner's portrayal of the Compson family (Thompson 34).
The use of symbolism in Toni Morrison's "Beloved" adds depth to the narrative (Thompson 34).
Smith's essay on "Hamlet" includes the observation that "Shakespeare's use of soliloquies provides insight into Hamlet's inner turmoil: 'To be or not to be, that is the question'" (23).
According to "Climate Change Effects," global warming is a pressing issue.
Recent research suggests that water scarcity is a significant concern ("Water Scarcity").
Water scarcity is a significant concern, according to recent research (Johnson 56).
"Gregor Samsa's transformation serves as a powerful metaphor for the alienation experienced by modern individuals," argues Johnson in her essay on "The Metamorphosis" (45).