AVOIDING PLAGIARISM

What was plagiarism again? According to Wikipedia it is defined as:

“the ‘wrongful appropriation’… of another author’s ‘language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions’” (“Plagiarism”)

Basically, when you plagiarize work you are stealing someone else’s work.

Consequences

There are many possible consequences for plagiarism at each academic level.

Consequences can include: failing the assignment, failing the class, failing a grade, or even expulsion (“UTEP English Department Plagiarism Policy”).

How to Avoid It

DON’T COPY AND PASTE! This includes not typing the same exact

words that are on the page/source. Summarize.

Read a paragraph and only write down the most important facts.

Take notes in your own words. Paraphrase. ALWAYS cite your source; both in-text

and on your Works Cited page.

In-text citations This is the way to give credit to your sources

in your paper without disrupting the flow of your paper.

There are different citations to use for each type of source you have. Usually it is the author’s last name in parentheses.

The period always goes outside of the citation.

Example for Books

However none of these things indicates that Lady Macbeth participates in the “renunciation of her own desire” and “unquestioningly seeks to confirm her husband’s ambition” (Alfar 190).

(Author’s last name #)

For Magazines, Newspapers, etc. If there is an author, use their last name

in parentheses.

If there is no author, use the title of the article with the quotation marks.

(“Finding Things”)

For Websites

Give the author’s last name if you have one.

If you don’t have an author, give the title of the article.

(“Chili Cook-off Secrets”).

Example

Let’s try this out…

Say I’m researching Jane Austen and I want to use biography.com to get some information about her career.

Tips for Writing Don’t forget your thesis!

_________ is influential because ______________.

Don’t forget your citations!You must have an in-text citation every time you use

information that you did not already know or that is not in your own words.

Use quotation marks when you are using the author’s exact words.

Focus on the most important part of the person’s life, where/how they made their impact.

Works Cited

“Plagiarism.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 January 2013. Web. 4 February 2013.

"UTEP English Department Plagiarism Policy." UTEP. UTEP English Department, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2013.