PLAGIARISM AND CITATION
BASICS
A QUICK GUIDE ON WHY AND HOW TO PROPERLY
RESEARCH…without getting in trouble!

WHY RESEARCH?

We research because we want to explore
interesting topics by…
◦ Incorporating others’ ideas and information
◦ Exploring our own thoughts and opinions in
relation to other people’s

Believe it or not, you were not born an
expert on your topic! Therefore, you
must research and cite your sources.
What’s the deal with…PLAGIARISM?

To plagiarize means “to commit literary
theft.”


“To present as new and original an idea or product
derived from an existing source.”
You must give credit to the “owner” of
the information that you use in your
paper, otherwise you are STEALING!
WHAT IS PLAGIARISM?

Anytime you use a direct quote, or even
change an author’s words, you are using
somebody else’s thoughts.

Simply changing the wording
(paraphrasing) is not enough; you must
cite your sources.

When in doubt, CITE! It’s better to be
safe than sorry.
WHAT IS PLAGIARISM…cont.


Certain well-known facts do not need to be
cited.
If your reader would probably already know
the information, you do not have to cite.
◦ Ex: Walt Disney founded the Disney company and
created one of the most well-known cartoon
characters of all time, Mickey Mouse. (NOT
PLAGIARISM)
◦ Ex: Raised on a farm near Marceline, Missouri,
Walt became interested in drawing at an early
age, selling his first sketches to neighbors when
he was only seven years old. (PLAGIARISM—IF
NOT CITED)
CITATIONS

As you know, in order to prevent
plagiarism, we must cite our sources.

There is a specific method of citing
sources, and certain “ingredients” are
needed, in a specific order, for the citation
to be correct and in MLA format.
CITATION SALAD! (Book source)
STEP 3: CROUTONS=CITY AND STATE
OF PUBLICATION
STEP 4: VEGGIES=YEAR OF
City: Publisher.
PUBLICATION
Year.
STEP 5:
DRESSING=
MEDIUM (TYPE OF
SOURCE)
STEP 1: SALAD BOWL= AUTHOR’S NAME
Print.
Last, First.
STEP 2: LETTUCE= TITLE
Italics.
VOILA! Book Salad.

Now you try…

Last name, First name. Book Title. City:
Publisher,Year. Print.
CITATION SALAD! (Web source)
STEP 3: CROUTONS=PUBLISHER NAME
STEP 4:
AND DATE
DRESSING=MEDIUM (TYPE
Name, date.
OF SOURCE)
Web.
STEP 5: VEGGIES=
STEP 2: LETTUCE= TITLE
DATE OF ACCESS
OF ARTICLE AND SITE
Day Mo.Year.
“Title of Article.” Title of
Site.
STEP 1: SALAD BOWL= AUTHOR/EDITOR’S
NAME
Last, First.
VOILA! Web Salad.

Now you try…

Last name, First name (author or editor). “Title
of article.” Name of site. Publisher name or
organization, date of publication. Web. Day
Mo.Year (accessed).

Did everyone get it right? Check your
partner’s work.
TIME FOR YOU TO “CITE YOURSELF”!

In your groups, you will be taking on the
role as an “ingredient” in a citation.

As a group, you will have to figure out
how to arrange all of your members in
the order of the citation, including all
necessary punctuation!

Good luck!
BEWARE OF CERTAIN SITES!

You should know by now that WIKIPEDIA
and .com sites are unreliable sources.

Watch…
See what I mean?


Stick to .edu, .org, or .gov sites, which come
from reliable educational institutions,
organizations, or the government.
IN-TEXT CITATIONS

In-text citations need to be used ANYTIME you state
a fact or idea that is not our own (even if it’s in your
own words).

It should always include the first item in the citation.
◦ Typically, this will be the author’s name…
◦ If no name, then the title of the work.
If from a book or article, it should also include the
page number.
 In-text citations always go inside parentheses ( ).
 In-text citations come at the end of the sentence,
BEFORE the period.
