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Avoiding Plagiarism & Citing Your Sources

What is Plagiarism?

  • A simple explanation of plagiarism is neglecting to give credit to sources from which you gathered information. Plagiarism can range from a simple forgotten citation error to full-blown word-for-word copying. Plagiarism often occurs without the knowledge of the plagiarist in the form of inadvertently forgetting citations, including incorrect citations, and/or using improper forms of paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing.
  • Check out St. Kate's Student Code of Conduct Policy. Read the sections entitled Community Expectations and Code of Conduct for information relating to academic honesty and plagiarism.
  • Sometimes plagiarism occurs when assignment deadlines are looming and, in order to finish the assignment on time, a student plagiarizes someone else's work. Using the Assignment Calculator is a great way to prevent procrastination and last minute panic on an assignment.

Not only can it get your expelled from your university,

it's against the law!

Handcuffs

Image courtesy of:

www.metrokc.gov/oirm/ images/handcuffs2.jpg


Tips for Avoiding Accidental Plagiarism

  • Cite every piece of information used that is not your own original idea. Results from your own research and information considered common knowledge do not need to be cited.
  • Use quotation marks every time you copy or include another person's work.
  • Include in the first sentence in which you intend to quote, paraphrase, or summarize, information that lets the reader know that the idea originated with someone else.

    Example:
    According to the MLA Handbook... Hemingway said...
  • End your sentence with a parenthetical citation (styles vary!) to credit the original author.

    Example:
    According to the MLA Handbook, when composing a research paper or creating a       presentation, it is extremely important to "remember that you must document everything that you borrow—not only direct quotations and paraphrases but also information and ideas" (Gibaldi, 69).

Be careful not to commit these two common forms of accidental plagiarism:

  • Paraphrases lacking Citation
    A paraphrase is your summary of another author's ideas. Paraphrases should not contain your own opinions or commentary.
    Avoid presenting information in the exact same order as the original author, and avoid using the author's words, writing style, sentence structure, and most importantly, remember to give credit where credit is due. Put quotation marks around any unique phrases you'd like to use.

    Example: attempting to paraphrase the sentences above.
    When one attempts to correctly paraphrase the work of another author it is important to neutrally present the author's ideas without copying words verbatim, writing styles, or idea order (citation).
  • Misplaced Citations
    Be sure to place the citation after all of the information you have paraphrased, quoted, or summarized from another author. If you cite a quote mid-paragraph and continue on paraphrasing, your reader will assume the additional ideas are your own.

    Good note taking is very important! Be sure to always mark in your notes when you are quoting someone (Q), using a source to gather information (S), and what information is from your own insight.

    Example:

    A handy note taking tip mentioned in the MLA Handbook is to "distinguish among three types of material" including quotations, your summaries of others' works, and your own ideas. By placing your citation at the end of the material cited, your reader will know that all ideas before the citation should be credited to, in this case, Mr. Gibaldi. (Gibaldi, 70). The reader can then logically assume that this sentence, since it follows the citation, was originally created and authored by you, with no help from Mr. Gibaldi.
Avoid Plagiarism Stop. Avoid Plagiarism Think.
Avoid Plagiarism
Cite. Avoid Plagiarism.

Citing your Sources

  • Remember, any time your paraphrase the work of another author or use a direct quotation, you must give credit to the source!
  • Find out which citation style your professor prefers. To access citation style guides and instructions, go to St. Kate's Citation Style Guides webpage.
  • Also, consider using RefWorks to manage your citations. Go to our RefWorks page for instructions.
  • Should you encounter citation issues that no book or webpage can solve, feel free to get assistance at the Reference Desk, or call 615-690-6652.

RefWorks logo

MLA Handbook
APA Manual

For more information...