CSCI 1101: Computer Concepts and Applications: Academic Integrity

Citing Sources - MLA Style 

In-Text Citations - MLA Style

MLA Citations (Full Guide)

Citation and Formatting Videos

To avoid plagiarizing someone else words or ideas, make sure you:

• Paraphrase the original text into your own words. The goal is to re-express the thoughts, not just to rearrange phrases or replace a couple of words.
    
• Use quotation marks around text that has been taken directly from the original source.
    
• Cite every source of information you use to write your paper unless it is common knowledge or the results of your own research. This includes facts, figures, and statistics as well as opinions and arguments.

According to the Student Policy and Procedures, plagiarism is:

(a) Submitting an assignment purporting to be the student’s original work which has been wholly or partly created by another person.

(b) Presenting as one’s own the ideas, organization, or wording of another person without acknowledgment of sources.

(c) Knowingly permitting one’s own work to be submitted by another student as if it were the student’s own.

Plagiarism may take many forms: cheating, copying information directly without providing quotation marks, failing to cite sources, or citing sources incorrectly. It does not matter whether you intended to plagiarize or whether the plagiarism occurred unintentionally; it still constitutes academic dishonesty.

Ignorance of the rules of correct citation is not an acceptable excuse for plagiarism.

To paraphrase, follow the steps below:

1. Read the original text until you grasp its meaning; then set it aside.
    
2. Using your memory, write down the main points or concepts. Do not copy the text verbatim.
    
3. Change the structure of the text by varying the opening, changing the order of sentences, lengthening or shortening sentences, etc.
    
4. Replace keywords within the sentences with synonyms or phrases with similar meanings.
   
5. Check your notes against the original to ensure you have not accidentally plagiarized. 

Example 1

Original Text

If the existence of a signing ape was unsettling for linguists, it was also startling news for animal behaviorists (Davis 26).
 

Unacceptable Borrowing of Phrases

Davis observed that the existence of a signing ape unsettled linguists and startled animal behaviorists (26).
 

Unacceptable Borrowing of Structure

Davis observed that if the presence of a sign-language-using chimp was disturbing for scientists studying language, it was also surprising to scientists studying animal behavior (26).
 

Acceptable Paraphrase

Davis observed both linguists and animal behaviorists were taken by surprise upon learning of an ape’s ability to use sign language (26).

Examples taken from, Hacker, Diana. Rules for Writers. 5th ed. Boston: Beford/St. Martin’s, 2004.