How to Cite an Encyclopedia Source
The basic form for this sort of citation is as follows:
Last name, First name. "Title of Article." Title of Collection. Edition (if any). Year of
publication. Medium of Publication.
For entries in encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference works, cite the piece as
you would any other work in a collection but do not include the publisher information.
Also, if the reference book is organized alphabetically, as most are, do not list the
volume or the page number of the article or item.
"Ideology." The American Heritage Dictionary. 3rd ed. 1997. Print.
To parenthetically cite an encyclopedia, you use the same rules you would for any other
source in your works cited page: either introduce the source in your sentence, or put the
author/first entry (article title, perhaps) in parentheses after the quote or paraphrase.
Examples:
According to The American Heritage Dictionary, an ideology is a set of ideas or cultural
beliefs.
An ideology is a set of ideas or cultural beliefs (American Heritage Dictionary).
According The American Heritage Dictionary, an ideology is “a set of ideas or cultural
beliefs.”
An ideology is “a set of ideas of cultural beliefs” (American Heritage Dictionary).
Assignment: Using the online encyclopedia known as World Book Online, research
and write one paragraph about Arthur Miller, the author of Death of a Salesman. You
will need a works cited page, although it will only have one source. You will also need to
use a mix of different signal phrases this time to introduce your quotes and paraphrases.
Your paragraph should include at least two quotes and at least one paraphrase. Both of
these should have correct parenthetical citations. If there is an author, be sure to use the
author’s last name in your citation.
I will grade you on the following:
Paraphrase (with correct parenthetical citation):
Quote (with correct parenthetical citation):
Signal phrases (a mix):
Works Cited page:
Topic Summary (at least 5 sentences):
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