Avoid Plagiarism

How to Avoid Plagiarism

Avoid plagiarism by documenting the source where the information was found. If a source is not documented, the reader of your paper will automatically assume that the ideas, words, and information presented are your original thoughts.

Do not submit a paper that you have already submitted for another course. This is a form of plagiarism called self-plagiarism.

Be careful at the note-taking stage of research. Always note the source along with the information you are collecting. When copying words directly from a text use quotation marks even in your notes. When you are ready to write your paper your notes will provide you with a clear indication of the source of material.

Always document direct quotations, paraphrases, ideas, and information. Document anything that a reader might mistake for your own. Material, which does not need documentation, includes facts, ideas, and quotations that have entered “common knowledge”.

Example:

It is a well known fact that Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world and, most readers would recognize that Shakespeare’s Hamlet said “To be or not to be.” When in doubt about documenting material it is best to err on the side of caution.

You must identify your source when:

1. You copy words exactly as they appear in a source.

Example:

"What is quality? A product or a service possesses quality if it helps somebody and enjoys a good and sustainable market" (Deming and Wang 2).

2. You paraphrase. Paraphrasing involves restating the meaning of a text in your own words. Be careful not to just change a few words and phrases around. A legitimate paraphrase requires you to express the meaning in your own vocabulary and style.

Example:

Deming et al. inform us that quality of a product or service is defined by customer’s satisfaction and its sustainability on the market (2).

3. You summarize or briefly describe the ideas/information from the source. In the cases above, the original thinking or information is not your own; therefore, you must document the source. For proper documentation procedures check the style guide your instructor recommends (e.g. American Psychological Association (APA), or Modern Language Association (MLA).