how to cite a speech

Dou Vamel yi

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16-01-2025

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Knowing how to cite a speech properly is crucial for academic integrity and avoids plagiarism. Whether it's a famous historical address or a presentation at a conference, accurate citation demonstrates your research and respects the original speaker's work. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of citing speeches in different citation styles. We'll cover the essentials, offering clear examples to help you master this important skill.

Understanding the Components of a Speech Citation

Before diving into specific citation styles, let's identify the key information you'll need to accurately cite any speech:

• Speaker's Name: The full name of the person who delivered the speech.
• Speech Title: The title of the speech, if available. If untitled, you may describe the speech's content.
• Date of Speech: The date the speech was given (day, month, year).
• Location of Speech: Where the speech was delivered (e.g., city, state, country; conference name and location).
• Publication Information (if applicable): If the speech was published in a book, journal, or online, include details like the publisher, journal name, volume, issue, page numbers, URL, and date accessed.
• Retrieval Information (if applicable): If accessed online, include the URL and date accessed.

Citing Speeches in Different Styles

The specific format for citing a speech varies depending on the citation style you're using (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago). Here are examples in the most common styles:

MLA (Modern Language Association)

The MLA style emphasizes brevity and is commonly used in the humanities. Here’s how to cite a speech delivered in person:

Example:

King, Martin Luther. "I Have a Dream." March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, D.C., 28 Aug. 1963.

If the speech is published in a book:

Example:

King, Martin Luther. “I Have a Dream.” A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., edited by James M. Washington, HarperOne, 1986, pp. 208-14.

APA (American Psychological Association)

The APA style is widely used in social sciences and emphasizes providing complete information for easy verification. For an in-person speech:

Example:

King, M. L. (1963, August 28). I Have a Dream. Speech delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, D.C.

If published in a book:

Example:

King, M. L. (1986). I Have a Dream. In J. M. Washington (Ed.), A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. (pp. 208-214). HarperOne.

Chicago/Turabian

The Chicago style offers both a notes-bibliography and author-date system. We will illustrate the notes-bibliography style here:

Example (Note):

1. Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have a Dream,” speech delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963.

Example (Bibliography):

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “I Have a Dream.” Speech delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963.

Citing a Speech from a Video or Audio Recording

If you're citing a speech from a video or audio recording, include the source information. For example:

Example (MLA):

Obama, Barack. "Remarks by the President at the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Marches." YouTube, uploaded by The White House, 7 Mar. 2015, [Insert YouTube URL Here]. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023.

How to Cite a Speech with No Known Title

If the speech lacks an official title, you may create a descriptive title enclosed in brackets.

Example (APA):

Smith, J. (2023, October 26). [Speech on the impact of climate change]. Presentation at the Annual Environmental Conference, Chicago, IL.

Using Citation Management Software

Citation management tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote can significantly simplify the process. These tools help you organize your sources, automatically format citations, and generate bibliographies.

Conclusion

Accurately citing speeches is essential for academic honesty. By following these guidelines and adapting them to your chosen citation style, you can confidently and correctly attribute the work of others in your research and writing. Remember to always double-check your citations against the specific style guide's latest edition to ensure accuracy. Proper citation not only avoids plagiarism but also enhances the credibility and impact of your work.