How to Avoid Plagiarizing ~ MMTC Virtual Library

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TIPS TO AVOID PLAGIARISM

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You have your assignment, you have the Internet, you have at least a day before your paper is due, and time is short...

The Internet is a big time saver, but it also can tempt you 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 (illegally using somebody else's work).

FIRST -- KNOW WHAT PLAGIARISM IS

If you're doing any of these, you're plagiarizing. Stop it.

- 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 an article, changing a few things and pretending that you wrote it

- Using the footnotes 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

NEXT, MAKE A PLAN

When you get your assignment, make a list of what you want to achieve. List some books, Web sites and databases you can use to find the information you will need.

* If you need help, ask at the Library Desk.

* If you've left it until the last minute, ask at the Library Desk.

* If you're not sure where to start, ask at the Library Desk!

Also, check out these tips on the Study Skills page.

TAKE NOTES

When you start your research, make sure you write down all the sources you've used, whether they're from a book, magazine, or online. You'll need at least the title, author, publisher, publication date, Web site address (URL), and maybe a few other items. See if your instructor requires MLA or APA format so you know what's required.

We all like to save on ink and paper, so many of us cut-and-paste from a Web site or print only sections from an article. If you're doing either of these, then:

1) make sure you include the Web site title, page title, author, date, organization sponsoring the site, and date you viewed the Web page so you can cite it later

2) make sure you quote and cite everything you've taken directly from the Web site and used in your paper.

BIG TIP!

When you use Infotrac to do your Internet research, you'll find an already formatted bibliographic citation for you to use at the end of every article! Get the password in the MMTC Library.

Need more citation help? Use these Web sites to format your bibliography.

ANOTHER BIG TIP! Google is not a source, don't cite it. Instead cite the source that Google helped you find.

DON'T PROCRASTINATE

I don't really have to spell this one out do I? The earlier you start, the easier you're life will be and the less likely you will feel pressure to take short cuts. Check out these tips on the Study Skills page.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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

ASK QUESTIONS

If you have any questions about plagiarism or doing research for your assignment, please ask at the Library Desk. We're here to help!