6.3 Citing Sources

6.3 Citing Sources

Most public speaking instructors require students to submit a bibliography, works-cited list, or reference list with a speech outline. This section explains why citation matters, how APA and MLA documentation differ, how to cite sources aloud during a speech, and how to use research ethically.

Why Citing Is Important

Citations allow audience members and readers to identify where information originated. Citing sources demonstrates credibility and integrity because it shows that your claims are supported by research and clearly distinguishes your ideas from the intellectual work of others.

Failing to acknowledge another person’s words, ideas, data, images, or other work may constitute plagiarism. Plagiarism involves presenting someone else’s work as your own, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Because plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty, colleges and universities may impose serious academic consequences for it.

Citation is necessary when you:

• Quote another person’s exact words.
• Paraphrase or summarize someone else’s ideas.
• Use statistics, research findings, or other data.
• Refer to a distinctive theory, model, or argument.
• Use an image, chart, video, audio recording, or other media created by someone else.
• Incorporate information that is not common knowledge.

APA and MLA: Choosing a Citation Style

Public speaking instructors may require APA, MLA, or another documentation style. Always follow the requirements provided by your instructor and assignment.

The two styles most often encountered in communication courses are:

• APA Style, developed by the American Psychological Association.
• MLA Style, developed by the Modern Language Association.

APA Style

APA Style is widely used in the social and behavioral sciences and in fields such as communication, psychology, sociology, education, nursing, and business. APA emphasizes the author and publication date because the currency of research is often important in these disciplines.

An APA parenthetical citation commonly appears in this form:

(Smith, 2022)

A narrative citation may appear as:

Smith (2022) argues that…

The current official guide is the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition.

MLA Style

MLA Style is frequently used in humanities disciplines such as English, literature, rhetoric, philosophy, and cultural studies. MLA emphasizes the author and the location of the information within the source, often a page number.

An MLA parenthetical citation commonly appears in this form:

(Smith 45)

The current official guide is the MLA Handbook, 9th edition.

Written Citations and Oral Citations Are Different

APA and MLA provide systems for documenting written work. A speech also requires oral citations, sometimes called verbal or in-speech citations.

An oral citation should give listeners enough information to understand who created the information, why the source is credible, and when or where the information was published. Speakers usually should not read a full APA or MLA reference aloud.

For example:

According to a 2024 report from the Pew Research Center…

Or:

Communication researcher Dana Smith explains in a 2023 article published in Communication Education that…

The complete source should also appear in the written reference list or works-cited list submitted with the speech.

Citing Sources in a Speech

When incorporating outside information into a speech, use three steps:

1. Introduce the source.
2. Present the information.
3. Explain how the information supports your point.

Step 1: Introduce the Source

Provide context before presenting the evidence. Identify the author, organization, publication, date, or relevant credentials.

For example:

Workplace bullying is a serious organizational problem. A national study by the Workplace Bullying Institute examined how employers respond when employees report bullying.

Step 2: Present the Information

You may use a direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary.

• Direct quotation: Reproduces the source’s exact words.
• Paraphrase: Restates a specific idea fully in your own wording and sentence structure.
• Summary: Condenses the main point of a longer passage or source.

All three methods require attribution.

For example:

According to a 2009 Workplace Bullying Institute report, 54% of employers did nothing after workplace bullying was reported.

Or, when quoting:

The report found that “doing nothing to the bully was the most common employer tactic,” occurring in 54% of the cases studied.

Step 3: Explain the Relevance

Do not present a quotation or statistic and immediately move to another point. Explain how the evidence supports your claim.

For example:

This finding demonstrates why relying only on voluntary employer action may not protect workers. Organizations need clear reporting procedures and meaningful accountability.

Connecting evidence to your reasoning helps the audience understand why the source matters. It also prevents drive-by quoting, in which a speaker inserts evidence without context, analysis, or explanation.

Using Sources Ethically

Ethical source use involves more than adding a reference list. The following practices help speakers avoid plagiarism, represent evidence accurately, and maintain credibility.

1. Cite sources during the speech. When an idea, quotation, statistic, or example is not your own, identify its source aloud. A written reference list alone is not sufficient.
2. Use your own voice. Your speech should reflect your own reasoning, organization, and explanation. Sources should support your message rather than replace it.
3. Begin early. Last-minute preparation increases the risk of careless notes, missing citations, inaccurate paraphrases, and plagiarism.
4. Track every source. Record complete citation information as soon as you locate a source. Include authors, titles, publication dates, URLs, page numbers, and notes about where each idea or quotation originated.
5. Distinguish your words from source material. Use clear verbal transitions such as “according to,” “the researchers found,” or “in the author’s words” to signal when you are presenting another person’s work.
6. Cite both orally and in writing. Include verbal citations during the speech and complete entries in the required reference list or works-cited list.
7. Limit direct quotations. Use exact wording when the language itself is especially authoritative, memorable, technical, or important. Otherwise, paraphrasing or summarizing often sounds more natural in a speech.
8. Paraphrase completely. Changing a few words or rearranging a sentence is not an adequate paraphrase. Read the original, understand the idea, set the source aside, and explain the meaning in your own wording and structure. Then cite the source.
9. Avoid patchwriting and patchspeaking. Do not assemble a speech by combining lightly altered sentences from multiple sources. Your speech should present your own analysis and organization.
10. Use automated summaries cautiously. AI systems and automated summarization tools can omit context, introduce inaccuracies, or produce wording that closely resembles the source. Verify every summary against the original material and follow your institution’s policies on AI use and disclosure.
11. Never submit someone else’s work as your own. Do not reuse another student’s speech, purchase a speech, copy material from an online speech repository, or submit AI-generated work in violation of course policies.
12. Conduct primary research ethically. If participants are promised anonymity or confidentiality, protect their identities and information. Respect statements made off the record, obtain permission before identifying participants, and represent responses accurately.

Conclusion

Effective citation strengthens a speech by showing where information came from, distinguishing your ideas from those of others, and demonstrating that your claims are supported by credible evidence.

Ethical speakers cite sources both orally and in writing, paraphrase accurately, preserve complete research records, protect participants in primary research, and explain how evidence supports their arguments.