General Knowledge. Commonly known dates, people, events, ideas, etc., are not items you need to cite in your research. Some examples of common knowledge, in the U.S.:
- The Declaration of Independence was signed July 4, 1776.
- Donald Trump is the current President of the United States.
- Netflix is a widely used streaming service.
Knowing what counts as "General Knowledge" can be difficult. For example, as a Franklin Pierce student, you know the university is located in Rindge, New Hampshire, but would this count as general knowledge in the wider world? If you're ever confused about what counts as "general knowledge," ask your professor or a librarian.
Your Own Ideas. You don't need to cite any original ideas of your own. That's the purpose of the assignment, after all! However, if you are borrowing ideas from another paper or project you have completed in the past, then you will want to cite this information.