Avoiding Plagiarism: A Writer’s Perspective

Few behaviors in academic life are detested as much as plagiarism, the representation of someone else’s work as your own. Whether this means you turn in someone else’s lab results instead of your own, or copy from a source without using quotation marks, you have presented these materials as if you, and not someone else originated them. Such an act has serious ethical as well as academic consequences; these may range from failure on an assignment to a failing course grade to suspension or expulsion. So it’s important for everyone to understand what plagiarism is, and how to avoid it.

How does a writer avoid plagiarism? There are five steps you should be sure you take.

Make sure you understand the material. As the University of Washington Psychology Writing Center points out, "If you can’t put the information into your own words, you aren’t ready to write about it. . . . Writing in your own words, using a few quotes to strengthen your main points, shows that you understand your topic. Stringing quotes together suggests that you don’t" ("Plagiarism and Student Writing"). Many students plagiarize, unintentionally or not, because they’re uncomfortable with a sequence of quotations and paraphrases coming right after the other. Such a sequence of quotations and paraphrases, even with a sentence or two to interrupt them, always lacks flow and signals your instructor that you really aren’t in control. If you can construct the bones of the argument in your own words and just bring in sources for support, you will not only avoid plagiarism but also write a better paper.

Know when and how to use direct quotations, paraphrases, summaries, and common knowledge. Direct quotations are used when the author’s original words are so memorable, the facts are so specific, or the authority is so convincing that the exact words are the only way to express the information. Paraphrases are used when the information is crucial, but the speaker’s authority or exact words aren’t as impressive. Paraphrases must be entirely in your own words and word order. Summaries are used when only a general sense of the information of the source is needed, for example as background or definition. Common knowledge includes facts found in general reference works like encyclopedias, almanacs, and dictionaries; common proverbs and expressions; knowledge generally shared by members of the audience (for instance, most historians know that the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand took place in Sarajevo, so you wouldn’t put a citation in for that.) It also includes your own research, surveys, etc. Works like the Bible should have book, chapter, and verse cited, but don’t go in the list at the end of the paper unless you’re referring to a particular version of the Bible (e.g. the Rheims-Douay text).

Use a signal in the body of your text to show where the use of a source starts. This technique, called attribution, shows your readers the kinds and quality of evidence that backs up the point you are making. Such a signal says to your reader, "Here’s why you should believe what I say–these facts or this person backs me up."

Use a signal to show where your use of the source ends. This in-text citation, usually in parentheses or shown by a footnote or endnote number, allows readers to switch focus from your supporting material back to the main thrust of your paper. It also helps readers find the source in the list at the end of the paper in case they wish to know more about what the source has to show. This signal takes different forms in MLA, APA, CBE, and Chicago-style documentation; you should to use the documentation style that your audience most respects to further reinforce your image as an ethical communicator.

Put a complete list of the sources you used at the end of your paper so that readers can find out more about them. Again, the name and form of this list will differ by documentation style; for instance, MLA calls it "Works Cited" while APA uses "References." But the purpose is the same: to show readers the range and depth of the material you looked at in writing this paper to support your expertise.

If you scrupulously follow these five rules, you should be able to avoid plagiarism and convince your readers that you are a knowledgeable, ethical writer whose viewpoint should be respected. And that’s the outcome you want!