Use this LibGuides page to help you answer questions about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.
Plagiarism FAQ
| Questions | Answers |
| 1. Do I have to cite EVERYTHING to avoid plagiarism? |
1. NO Information that is considered to be common knowledge does NOT need to be cited. For example: The earth revolves around the sun. George Washington was one of the founding fathers. EVERYTHING else from books, databases, journal articles, data, videos, podcasts, news, personal interviews, primary documents etc. must be cited! |
| 2. Do I have to cite if I am summarizing and using my own words? |
2. YES Any ideas that you have taken from someone else or something else MUST be cited EVEN IF they are in your own words. Plagiarism is not just about passing off someone else's words as your own but also their ideas. |
| 3. If a tutor or classmate helps me do my assignment/write my paper is this plagiarism? |
3.Maybe First, you should always check with your teacher to make sure that it is okay to work with other people on any assignment or paper. DO NOT assume anything. Second, it is okay to get help from a tutor or classmate but copying their work or using their ideas without giving credit is plagiarism.
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| 4. If I use a translation tool for an assignment or project in a language classroom is this plagiarism even if the original was in my own words? |
4. Yes Using a translation tool to change your words into a different language is STILL plagiarism because you are using the information and ideas of a machine or person and not your own. |
Plagiarism vs. Copyright
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plagiarism_vs_Copyright_Infringement.png
Steps to avoid plagiarism
1. Do not leave your research to the last minute:
If you leave your research to the last minute then you are more likely to rely on other people's ideas and the work of AI instead of developing your own. If you do not understand an assignment, essay prompt or information in a source ask your teacher for help.
2. Use NoodleTools to help you organize your notes:
NOODLETOOLS is a citation gathering and notetaking platform. It has a feature that allows you to make digital notecards for each source that you are using for a paper or project. And they help you separate Direct Quotations, Paraphrases or Summaries and. My Ideas. to help you distinguish between them.
3. Before submitting assignments reread your work and make sure you gave credit when quoting and paraphrasing:
Before submitting any work, remember to check to make sure you gave credit to other people's words and ideas in your paper, including any work or ideas generated by AI. Remember that IF they are not your thoughts you MUST give credit.
