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Avoiding Plagiarism: Avoiding Plagiarism

Avoid the pitfalls that could lead to plagiarism

Resources

Also consult these resources for more information:

Other Resources

Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing from Perdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)

Writing Guides from The Writing Studio at Writing@CSU (Colorado State University)

 

This short video explains Quoting, Paraphrasing & Summarizing. It is from the Lauren's The Write Way You Tube Channel, where you can find other videos with writing tips.

What You Do NOT Need To Cite

You do not need to cite common knowledge, i.e., things that are verifiable in at least five sources

Examples:

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

The thirteen colonies formed the original United States of America.

The capital of Texas is Austin.

You do not need to cite your own opinions and ideas

Tips & Hints

Keep Track of Your Sources
As you search the library website, Google Scholar, or any other resources, save the materials you plan to use. Either print them out or save the articles electronically (email them to yourself, save to a jump drive, etc.). Saves your citations in RefWorks or some other citation manager. Note: some citation managers allow you to upload the article to save everything in one place but all do not.

 

Take Good Notes
Keep a list of all the sources (including page numbers or URLs) you gathered. Mark the section(s) on your copies of the sources you will be using.

 

Ask
If you have a question about integrating sources into your paper, ask your professor or contact the Graduate Writing Specialists.

 

Don't Procrastinate
Plan ahead! Waiting until the last minute will lead to sloppy work. Stay organized.

Why Bother?

You need to give credit to sources for several reasons:

  • To let your readers know how your views compare, contrast or modify the views of published experts in the field
  • By citing your sources, you are providing your reader with additional information--such as books, articles, and websites--on the topic
  • If it were your work, you would not want someone else to claim credit for it

For more on the importance of citing, visit The University of Toronto Libraries Why Cite?

Staff LADR