To document a source means simply to indicate the sources of the information you're using to prove or explain a point. Failure to give credit where credit is called "plagiarism." Academic writers follow a consistent style in documenting their sources, depending on their area of study. In English, we use the Modern Language Association (MLA) system. Your Scott, Foresman Handbook carries a clear and extensive discussion of documenting sources, beginning on page 566. Notice that the discussion is followed by specific examples (the blue section, starting on page 601). The sources you find on the internet can be a little tricky to document, even with the help of your text, so you may want to try one of the on-line guides that deal with this subject.

Internet help for avoiding plagiarism:

• Documentation
• MLA parenthetical documentation
• Quotation and summaries
• Another summary site
• Paraphrases
• Plagiarism

Helps for documenting on-line sources:

• Beyond the MLA Handbook: Documenting Electronic Sources on the Internet
• Citing Electronic Materials with the New MLA Guidelines
• MLA-Style Citations of Electronic Sources

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