Tips and Clarifications: Writing in Political Science

1. All data/information/ideas that is not yours should be cited.
2. If a certain information is general knowledge, Google it first, using the exact wording, to find out the origin of that idea.  If you can't recall, ask around; if you still can't, then don't use it.  If you find it, cite it.  If there's no actual original source, then identify it in your writing as "commonly known" or any similar wording.
3. Information that you know from experience is different from data that you learned from someone (which is also an experience).  For example, you know that traffic is congested in Manila everytime you commute.  This is your own personal experience, which you can write without need for citation. But, as another example, the idea that there was a hostage situation at Manila Hotel because a friend mentioned it to you is not personal experience.  You need to search for it and cite the news that mentions it.
4. The paper or thesis is original because it is your own thought.  But it gets filled with citations because of the necessity for proof.  The tendency is a discussion that is made of paraphrase from various sources.  Such practice is wrong.  
5. A good paper must discuss your idea, and then you mention other sources to prove.  One example is: I'm writing on the negative effects of political raiment (power created through image).  I'll talk about how 1) either too much self-importance, and 2) too little use of use practical wisdom.  To prove my 1st claim, I'll cite explanations by UNESCO (2003) regarding mistakes made by diplomats and negotiators when they make decisions during negotiations based on how they will look to their constitutents instead of focusing on the goal.  Then I'll also cite facts from Inquirer (2014) and GMA news (2014) regarding fashion mistakes at the SONA to prove the 2nd claim.

• Sample for #3:   

     Political raiment is a tool, and like any other it can cause both positive and negative effects. And as a tool, it causes negative effects when mishandled.  There are two factors that cause the negative effects of political raiment: 1)  too much self-importance, and 2) too little use of use practical wisdom.

     Sometimes, one gets too focused on maintaining personal power that they fail in doing their job.  This extends to the attention one gives to his or her political image or stature.  UNESCO (2003) gives a practical explanation when they discussed how a negotiator can make a mistake during international negotiations when they get are emotionally baited by opposing negotiators.  When pride gets hit, people get emotional, they miss focusing on their goal (sample Spratly Islands settlement) and end up personally engaging in a verbal exchange of aggression with the other negotiator.