Library Research Tutorials

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is “the theft of ideas (such as the plots of narrative or dramatic works) or of written passages or works, where these are passed off as one’s own work without acknowledgement of their true origin; or a piece of writing thus stolen.” - Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms (2015)

Image Credit: "Mimi & Eunice: Thief" by Nina Paley is licensed under CC BY SA 3.0.

What are the Different Types of Plagiarism?

• Writing down someone else’s words without identifying and crediting the original author
• Presenting someone else’s ideas as your own
• Buying a research paper or having another person write a paper and presenting it as your own
• Submitting your own work that has already been submitted for credit in another class

How to Avoid Plagiarism:

• Take detailed notes documenting where you found ideas for your research
• Document all the necessary citation information for each source you consult
• Follow citation styles to credit other authors
• Use quotations to signal you are directly reproducing another’s words

What are Citations?

Citations are a way to credit the creator and the work you utilized in your research. These are usually inserted in-text in parentheses, footnotes, or endnotes, and at the end of your paper in a Reference List or Bibliography.  Correctly citing your sources is the number one defense against plagiarism.

When Should I Cite?

In your research, you should cite when:

• you are directly quoting.
• you are summarizing and paraphrasing. 
• you are writing something that is highly debatable. 

Why Should I Cite?

As mentioned above, citations are the number one defense against plagiarism but citations serve many roles, these include:

• Acknowledging other scholars’ original ideas and intellectual property.
• Adding credibility to your own research with supporting documentation.
• Engaging in the scholarly conversation by helping other researchers follow your sources
• Helping your reader find your sources to both verify your information.

What are Citation Styles?

Citation styles are consistent formats for citing so that researchers can identify and locate the sources you used in your research. The three most common styles are APA, MLA, and the Chicago Manual of Style. Review your class syllabus or assignment directions to see which citation style your professor wants you to use. See the "Further Help" section below for citation style resources.

Further Help

Citations can be complicated and intimidating and this page is only a brief overview of the concepts. So do not be afraid to reach out for help. Check out the WMC’s Citation Resources page and the library's Citation LibGuide for explanations, tips, examples, videos, and additional resources.

Image Credit: "When Do You Cite?" from UC San Diego licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0, Robert A. Harris’ The Plagiarism Handbook (2001).