Writing/Citing Sources

When you have completed your research and you are ready to begin writing, you can consult these sources for ideas and guidance.

In addition to the sources listed above, this book can assist you with your writing assignments.

A key element in scholarly writing is citing your sources, both within the narrative and at the end in a reference list. If you have any questions regarding citations, click on this video.

Citing informs your readers, including your professors, of the sources for your information, ideas, and thoughts. At the same time, it credits the author for the original information. Citing respected sources confirms that you have thoroughly researched your topic, and it also strengthens your arguments.

Equally important, failing to cite properly can result in plagiarism - using another person's work or ideas without crediting the person. Plagiarism is a serious violation of academic and professional ethics, as the box in the right-hand column explains.

Plagiarism is defined as using another person’s ideas, words, or knowledge in any format (print, online, media, etc.) and passing them off as your own. Whether you do this intentionally or inadvertently, it is still considered plagiarism. 

Plagiarism infringes on a person’s right to intellectual property. It is a form of stealing: You are engaging in academic dishonesty and infringing on copyright law.

Click on the links below for additional information on what plagiarism is and how you can avoid it.

• Turning in another person's work as your own (including papers from free websites).

• Copying without proper acknowledgment an entire text, an excerpt, a paragraph, or a line from books, periodicals, monographs, maps, charts, pamphlets, and other sources, such as the Internet or article databases.

• Using a quotation without proper documentation (omitting quotation marks).

• Paraphrasing material without citing the source(s).

• Purchasing a paper from a research service or a commercial term-paper mill. Sharing or swapping from a local source (other students’ papers).