Avoiding Plagiarism!: Quick Tips & Tricks

 Get started early. You won't make as many mistakes or find yourself simply regurgitating what others have written.

 Use scholarly sources versus the open Internet. Quality information leads to quality writing, and there is less temptation to recycle unattributed information.

 If in doubt, cite the source or contact an instructor or librarian for help. 

 Recheck your citations and references before handing in your paper to make sure all are complete and accurate. 

 Use a style manual or a class/library reference tool to check your citation and reference format.

 Have a friend who's familiar with your writing look over your paper. Chances are he or she will spot content that doesn't sound like you.

red push pin: Be original. Your paper is about your ideas and conclusions drawn from your research. Reading scholarly info is important, but it shouldn't be the bulk of your paper.

red push pin: Choose a topic to expand on an idea or challenge conventional thinking. Strike out in a new direction while using research to support your own original thinking.

red push pin: Compare or contrast ideas from various sources in your paper. Analyze or contribute to the writings of others with your own input. Don't just repeat the ideas of others!

red push pin:Summarize a source paragraph in a few sentences instead of trying to translate it sentence by sentence into your own words. If you can't easily paraphrase it, you may need to quote it.

red push pin: Read a passage through once or twice before trying to paraphrase it. Try to recap the essential parts without looking at it so the words will be yours.

red push pin: To quote or not? When an author's words are unique and impactful, it may be wise to quote them. When language is too technical or specific to easily paraphrase, consider quoting them.

red push pin: Don't copy and paste a direct quote in your document unless you immediately put quotes around it and note the source. Best practice!