In lecture 6, I’m actually trying to teach you a new tool that combines the use of a footnote (see Brown’s “In Reference”), along with using an APA citation. Here’s an example:

In a standard in-text citation, you’re simply trying to make your essay more credible. This is done by telling people, in every instance when you convey something that “is not common knowledge” to the average person, where you are getting your knowledge from. For example: “Global temperatures have been increasing on average for the past 15 years” (Smith, 2009). In this example, you’re just using the in-text citation to PROVE your point.

In the use of footnotes, you’re inserting a number in superscript, as Malinda said, for the general purpose of having an “aside” conversation with you audience. Again, see Brown’s “In Reference” on our Modules page for a classic example of how footnotes can be used to have a “private” conversation between the author and his/her audience.

Now, instead of adding text at the bottom of the page where the typical footnote information would go, I’m teaching you how to insert an APA peer reviewed journal citation, AS a form of message between you and your audience. For example, let’s say that I want to provide a “subtextual” or “hidden” meaning to a word or phrase within my essay, almost as a “private” aside between myself and the audience, I would first insert a footnote on the word/phrase, then, I have to figure out what to put into the footnote at the bottom of the page.

Instead of writing my message directly to the audience, let’s use a citation as a more nuanced, subtle, and sophisticated form of message. Say I’d like to let my audience know that the science behind global warming is not settled. In the final unit of the semester, I’m going to teach you that it’s necessary to argue BOTH sides of an issue, even while you’re trying to convince your audience of your stated purpose. So, in this global warming example, let’s say your purpose is to convince your audience that global warming is either not man-made, or is a part of the natural cycle of heating of the earth’s heating and cooling.

But, you have to argue both sides of this debate, even while ultimately trying to convince your audience of the above stated principle that the phenomenon is natural/not man-made. So, you might in your essay have a sentence like, “Scientists indicate that the earth has experienced a warming trend for the last 15 years.” This sentence is necessary in terms of thoroughness (arguing both sides), but is antithetical to your ultimate purpose. So, you decide to footnote the word “WARMING,” and then, at the bottom of your page, you insert a citation–which remember, is a sophisticated hidden message between you and your audience about the word warming. Your footnote at the bottom of the page reads: (Smith, John. 1955. A brief review of climate trends across the state of Rhode Island. New Podunk Press, Mizoula, Montann 4 (2)).

Now let’s analyze the effect of this footnote citation combination on your reader. The reader sees that the word “warming” has a footnote indicating that the author want to communicate something more specific about the word to the audience. The reader goes to the bottom of the page and reads the above footnote, which contains particular “packets of information” if you examine it closely. Those so called packets of information tell a story. For example, the packet of information provide by the date of publication says that the information is OLD. The packet of information provided by the title suggests that the study is limited to a small geographic area. The packet of information related to publisher suggests the resource was published by a small publisher without any clout. The packet of information pertaining to volume and issue says that the journal from which the article is taken is not prolific.

All said, what then, do these packets of information tell the reader, in a sort of hidden or coded sort of way, about the statement that “Scientists indicate that the earth has experienced a warming trend for the last 15 years.”

If you believe you can answer that question correctly, not only will you understand how to use this tool in your next 3 essays, but I’ll give you extra credit when you write your own answer to this question, and put it in a drop box marked for extra credit by this Sunday. Good luck!