College Composition / Unit 24 CMP 0577 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Common Knowledge
Captions available
The idea
Common knowledge, information an educated adult would be expected to know or that appears in many sources, does not need a citation.
In practice
Dates of major historical events, the locations of states and cities, and general laws of science are common knowledge; a specific statistic from one study is not.
Where people slip
When you are unsure whether something is common knowledge, cite it.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
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