General Rules: Citing Lectures, Conference Presentations, or other Talks
In-text Citation: Information to Include
In-text citations and signal phrases can be woven into sentences and paragraphs in multiple ways, and what you emphasize depends on what information will be most relevant and/or persuasive to your reader. However, the following information should always be included:
Reference Citation: Information to Include
This depends on whether or not the talk is “recoverable” or available for your reader to view. See below for details.
Specific Example: Lecture Posted to YouTube
In-text Citation
David Ian Howe (2023) argued, in a guest lecture at the University of Wyoming, that most cultures place dogs in a category of their own; they aren’t human, but they also aren’t animals.
According to a guest lecture at the University of Wyoming, most cultures place dogs in a category of their own; they aren’t human, but they also aren’t animals (Howe, 2023).
References Page Entry
Howe, D. (2023, January 9). The history of dogs: Evolution, archaeology, and mythology. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiD-qZDl9jQ
Specific Example: Lecture Posted to a Website
In-text Citation
Eric Jay Dolin (2022), speaking at the University of Mary Washington, demonstrated that the history of piracy in early America is a history of violence and criminality, in contrast to the attractive portrayal of pirates in fiction and film.
The lecture demonstrated that the history of piracy in early America is a history of violence and criminality, in contrast to the attractive portrayal of pirates in fiction and film (Dolin, 2022).
References Page Entry
Dolin, E. (2022, February 4). America’s Pirates. [Video]. https://www.umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/page/2/
Specific Example: Lecture That isn’t Publicly Available
This is considered an “unrecoverable” source and is cited as personal communication, similar to an informational interview or an email message.
In-text Citation
Frances Laskey, in a lecture on collegiality, noted that, all other things being equal, employees who make the effort to behave pleasantly will receive raises and promotions (personal communication, September 7, 2023).
One thing the professor emphasized was collegiality, noting that, all other things being equal, employees who make the effort to behave pleasantly will receive raises and promotions (F. Laskey, personal communication, September 7, 2023).
References Page Entry
None. Sources that your readers can’t access aren’t cited on the References page.