SCC Research Guides: Presentations, Speeches, and Projects: Citing Your Sources in a Presentation

Citing Sources in a PowerPoint Presentation

There are several ways to cite sources in a project depending on the source and your instructor's requirements.

Most instructors want you to cite your sources the same as you would if you were writing a paper for your in-text citations.

Some instructors instead have you number your sources on your Works Cited or References page and then use the number as the in-text citation. You would follow your instructors requirements.

For images, see Finding and Citing Images in a Project.

Citing Sources in a Presentation

When preparing your presentation, remember that all sources used must be cited in both the Works Cited page and in-text. For a speech you will need to verbally give credit to your sources. Verbally citing a source can be as simple as stating, "Dr. Bob, a Professor at Clemson University, stated in a 2019 Forbes article, ..." Other examples could be, "The World Health Organization published the following Zika virus statistics on April 12, 2016...," or "According to Neal's book we learned..."

By verbally citing your sources you are lending credibility to your topic and making your position stronger. Be sure to vary the language in which you verbally cite sources to keep your presentation more interesting (don't say "According to..." every time).

Oral Citations Video (Video)
A brief tutorial on creating and delivering oral citations in public speaking. Topics include the importance of oral citations, when oral citations are necessary, and how to create and deliver oral citations in a speech. (5 mins.)
Orally Citing a Source in a Speech (Video) by Janene Davison
This is a basic primer on how to incorporate indirect and direct quotes into your presentation. (4 mins.)
Tips on citing sources when speaking publicly by Sarah Stone Watt
Gives example of written sources versus orally attributions.

There are several ways to cite sources in a project depending on the source and your instructor's requirements.

Most instructors want you to cite your sources the same you would if you were writing a paper for your in-text citations where you include an in-text on the slide where you used the information, and a Works Cited or References list of all your sources on a slide at the end of your presentation.

Some instructors instead have you number your sources on your Works Cited or References slide and then use the number as the in-text citation. Follow your instructor's requirements.

For images, see Finding and Citing Images in a Project.