UpFront with NGS: Citing Your Sources

20 May 2013

A 10 Step Plan: Getting Sources & Citations Under Control

Created by Lynn Palermo, used with her permission

Citing sources – we talk about this often. Why? Because it is so important!

Lynn Palermo (The Armchair Genealogist), recently wrote A 10 Step Plan: Getting Sources & Citations Under Control and created a really neat graphic to go with it! She states ...

We all were pulled into the excitement of the research, the thrill of the hunt and discovery of our family history. Eventually we all come to realize the importance of knowing where our information came from, and what sources we have to support our history as fact. However, more often then you realize, this knowledge arrives after we've been researching for some time.

So true. It is easy to want to only do the exciting part. Ask any genealogist if they like to write reports or similar and that booming sound was probably most of them saying “NO!” Well, citing sources ranks right there with report writing.

I like how Lynn views source citing as part of a bigger process and not an end unto itself. It’s part of an organic process that we can use regularly as we do our research. Whenever we can make some element of our research part of a bigger habit, the more likely we are to stick with it. Putting my floss next to my daily medicines has sure helped my dental health!

Do you agree with her 10 steps? Would you want to add 1 or 2 more and if so, what?

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21 September 2012

Citing Sources: A Quick and Graphic Guide ala Harry Potter!

source: http://www.katehart.net/2012/06/citing-sources-quick-and-graphic-guide.html

In keeping with the “youth” theme of the previous post though in the context of a very important for us genealogists and family historians – avoiding plagiarism, Kate Hart has posted a graphic “A Magical Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism” based on J K Rowling and her Harry Potter book series.

I know that many young adults, from about 15-21 and even some older folks, are familiar with this book series and/or the movies subsequently filmed. I will confess that I read these books every morning for years to wake up a sleepy-headed daughter – they gave us a way to connect every day.

Plagiarism is as much an issue in genealogy as are ineffective source citations! One must always give credit to sources (whether databases or people) and NOT represent the hard efforts of others as if our own!

The poster is a lighthearted and yet serious look at plagiarism. Don’t just look at the poster and do look at the comments posted before and after!

What a great thing to share with young adults, grandchildren or other “younger” folks as they get more into “research” and hopefully of the family history variety.

Are there other “neat” tools to help us mentor the next generation of family historians?

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com