Writing a Research Paper: 7. Citations & Plagiarism

The Importance of Citations

Writing a research paper requires that you:

• use outside resources for information
• let readers know where that information came from
• make it easy for readers to find the information themselves

That's what citations are for.  Unless you are stating your own ideas or common knowledge (such as that the Earth revolves around the sun), you will have to cite the source where the idea comes from.

Citing the sources you use in your paper:

• gives credit to the author of the original source
• avoids plagiarism
• allows your readers to identify the source for further study
• shows that your position is well-researched

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person's words or ideas as if they were your own. This includes:

• taking someone else's paper and turning it in as your own
• copying sentences word-for-word from a source
• quoting someone's words or using their ideas without giving them credit
• using a substantial amount of information from someone else that makes up a majority of your paper even though you have given credit to the original source

Plagiarism is an academic offense and can have severe consequences. At Kenrick-Glennon, the consequences of plagiarism can even include expulsion from the seminary.

While some students plagiarize with intent, many students commit plagiarism unintentionally. So it is important to be aware of different forms of plagiarism and make sure you avoid mistakes.