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to cut a few corners to get that paper finished. After all, do a few borrowed words matter? Well, yes, they do. So, before you start grabbing a sentence here or a paragraph there, think about the consequences.If you use somebody else's work--whether a short phrase or an entire paper-- you risk a failing grade or even expulsion. Here are a few simple steps you can take to make sure you're not plagiarizing. FIRST -- KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO PLAGIARIZE If you're doing any of these, you're plagiarizing: - Copying phrases, sentences or paragraphs from somebody's work into your paper without quotation marks and without citing the source - Changing words in a phrase, sentence or paragraph and pretending that you wrote it - Turning in an old paper you already wrote for a different class - Using somebody else's paper, whether you got it from a friend or you bought it - Downloading, saving or printing an article, changing a few things and pretending that you wrote it - Using the citations or bibliography from somebody else's paper - Copying a copyrighted picture, image or graphic into your paper without permission and without citing the source - Using information from an interview or discussion in your paper without citing the source The best way to avoid plagiarism is to plan ahead. When you get your assignment, make a timeline for when you need to finish your research, finish writing, and finish the bibliography. List books, Web sites and databases you'll need. Use these tips for recognizing good information. If you need help or are not sure where to start, ask at the Library Desk.
The earlier you start, the easier you're life will be and the less likely you will feel pressure to take short cuts. For more help, check out these tips. OWL Writing Lab Tips on Avoiding Plagiarism You Quote It, You Note It (Acadia University) - Interactive tutorial on plagiarism Watch a Short Video Giving Tips on Avoiding Plagiarism If you have any questions about plagiarism or doing research for your assignment, please ask at the Library Desk. We're here to help! |
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