Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism
- Always cite your sources. The Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management supports using the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, which can be found in the Dulaney-Browne Library. There are several other style manuals available at the library, but you should always check with your professor to see which one to use for assignments. Style manuals lay out rules for citing sources within your paper and show you how to prepare a reference list which is required for all research papers.
- The MLA Handbook recommends that you always take notes while conducting research. “Presenting an author’s exact wording without marking it as a quotation is plagiarism, even if you cite the source. For this reason, recording only quotations is the most reliable method of note-taking in substantial research projects, especially for beginning students. It is the surest way, when you work with notes, to avoid unintentional plagiarism“ (Modern Language Assn. of America 2009). When taking notes also make sure to keep a list of the sources you use (Modern Language Assn. of America 2009).
- Knowing when to cite a source. In general you should always cite a source if you incorporate someone else's knowledge or ideas into your work. A style guide can be helpful in determining how to cite the source.
Source:
Modern Lanuguage Association of America. (2009). MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th ed.). New York, NY: Author
