PHI-SEC-201 (Academic Writing & Research Ethics): Unit 3: Preparation and Referencing
Semester: III | Credits: 3 | Contact Hours: 45 | Full Marks: 100
Table of Contents
Use of Diacritical Marks
A **Diacritical Mark** (or diacritic) is a sign, such as an accent or cedilla, added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or meaning. In philosophy, especially Indian Philosophy, they are crucial for correctly transliterating concepts from Sanskrit or Pali.
- **Purpose:** Ensures scholarly accuracy and prevents ambiguity (e.g., differentiating long and short vowels).
- **Examples:**
- Anumāna (inference) vs. Anumana (incorrect).
- Dharma (duty) vs. Dharma (incorrect).
- Śreyaḥ (the good) vs. Sreyas (incorrect).
Practical Tip (MS Word): Learn to use the **Insert Symbol** function or the **Unicode** system (e.g., using specific key combinations) to correctly type diacritics. Incorrect marks undermine academic credibility.
Footnote and Endnote
**Footnotes** and **Endnotes** are explanatory or citation devices used to provide supplementary information or source credit without interrupting the flow of the main text.
| Feature | Footnote | Endnote |
|---|---|---|
| **Location** | At the **bottom of the page** where the corresponding number appears. | At the **end of the document** or chapter. |
| **Advantage** | Convenient for the reader to immediately check the source/explanation. | Avoids cluttering the text pages. |
| **Use Case** | Common in Humanities (Philosophy, History, Literature) for detailed commentary. | Preferred when fewer interruptions are desired (some scientific journals). |
Referencing Styles: MLA and APA
Referencing styles dictate the standardized way authors credit sources. Consistency is paramount to avoid the ethical violation of plagiarism.
MLA (Modern Language Association) Style
- **Usage:** Typically used in the Humanities (Literature, Philosophy).
- **In-Text Citation:** **Author-Page** format (e.g., (Russell 45)).
- **Works Cited Page:** Lists sources alphabetically by author. Includes container information (e.g., *Journal Title*, Publisher).
APA (American Psychological Association) Style
- **Usage:** Typically used in Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Education).
- **In-Text Citation:** **Author-Date** format (e.g., (Copi & Cohen, 2003, p. 12)).
- **References Page:** Lists sources alphabetically by author. Places the **year of publication** immediately after the author's name.
Practical Tip (MS Word): MS Word has built-in tools under the **References** tab to automatically generate and format citations and bibliographies in both MLA and APA styles, which will be tested in the practical component of the exam.
Key Takeaway for Unit 3:
Know the difference between **MLA (Page)** and **APA (Date)** in-text citations. Understand the use of **Diacritical Marks** as a requirement for scholarly rigor in philosophical texts.