Hello Students!
As we wind down the last couple weeks of the quarter, most of you are probably working on your final research papers for one or more courses. You may have heard information from your instructors, or even from other students, about plagiarism, a topic closely related to writing assignments in college.
The goal of this post is to help clarify some information about plagiarism.
So, what is plagiarism anyway?
Plagiarism is the use of someone else's ideas, writing, or creation without giving that person credit. Credit refers to both an in-text citation as well as listing your source on a References page at the end of your paper.
Um, in-text citation? What's that?
There are two kinds of information that you might use from an outside source for a paper: paraphrased information (the author's ideas in your own words) or a quotation (the author's text, word-for-word).
When you paraphrase, you should include the author's last name and the date of publication of your source at the end of your paper, like this (Smith, 2007).
If you are quoting, on the other hand, "you should have quotation marks around the text, and your in-text citation should include the author's last name, the date of publication, and the page or paragraph number of the quotation" (Smith, 2007, p. 44).
You should use a paragraph number instead of a page number in the case of an online source, like a website. Whether your are citing a paraphrase or a quote, the in-text citation should be WITHIN the punctuation at the end of the sentence (see above).
Ok, I get that. So what is a References page?
A References page (NOT a bibliography) is a list of all of the sources that you used in your paper (with the exception of interviews). Each of your sources should be formatted using APA style, double-spaced, in alphabetical order by the last name of the author.
Back up - what's APA?
APA stands for American Psychological Association. It is the editorial style adopted by many professions (including accounting, business, allied health, crime management, early childhood education, & IT). Authors must follow the APA format for formatting & citation in order to have their works considered for publication.
So, why does this plagiarism stuff matter?
As a professional about to embark on a career, you are responsible for the integrity of your work. Not only does that mean that you should contribute your own ideas and understanding of a subject, but you should be able to back up those ideas by identifying quality resources and integrating them honestly (ethically) in your paper.
I already know all of the information for my paper. Why do I have to use resources?
Resources validate your information. Think about preparing a job application - most employers ask for 3 (or more) references. They may trust the information that you provide but they also want additional evidence to support your data. Resources make your paper stronger.
My instructor said that I had to cite information even though I knew it already. What's up with that?
The dividing line between citing resources and not is called "common knowledge", which is defined as information that anyone might know. If the information you are using isn't common knowledge, then you should use a source in your paper to validate your information. Examples:
Common Knowledge: The heart is an organ.
Need to Cite: The heart has four chambers: the left and right atrium and the left and right ventricle.
Common Knowledge: The Statue of Liberty is in New York.
Need to Cite: The Statue of Liberty's hand is 16'5" in length.
So, my whole paper should be information from my sources?
Definitely not. Your paper should begin with an original topic statement or question (called a thesis); each following paragraph should have a balance of your ideas and thoughts supported by evidence from your sources. You should paraphrase more than you quote and you should have more original ideas than you do paraphrases. After all, the instructor wants to find out how much YOU have learned and discovered; not what other writers have learned or discovered.
Why bother? My instructor won't know the difference.
Trust me, your instructor does know the difference. The easiest thing to identify in a paper is when a student has tried to pass off information that is not their own. Remember, your instructor has read your assignments and participated in discussion with you all quarter - they know your voice and writing style.
The consequences of plagiarism are steep. You may lose points, receive a "0" on a paper, or even receive a "0" for the class. The Academic Misconduct Policy in your syllabus provides detailed information about the penalties for plagiarism.
I'm so confused. What resources are available to help me avoid plagiarism?
If you have questions about the specifics of an assignment or the use of a source in your paper, speak to your instructor.
If you need help locating resources, integrating resources with your own ideas, or citing/formatting resources in APA style, you can contact a campus librarian or e-mail librarian@rasmussen.edu.
Use Noodlebib to keep track of the sources used in a course and to generate a References page in APA style (Student Portal - Library Resources - APA Citation Help). This page also provides access to guides about APA formatting and style.
Remember, if you aren't sure - ask!
It is much better to correct mistakes before a paper is graded, rather than after.
From
Emily D. O'Connor / System Library Director
Rasmussen College