How to Prevent Plagiarism When Writing an Essay
Plagiarism occurs when you use another writer's words, sentences or ideas as your own. In this technological age, plagiarism is more rampant than ever. To make sure you don't plagiarize while writing your essay, keep track of all your sources and cite your sources every time you quote or paraphrase from them. You must correctly attribute information you did not write yourself in order to avoid plagiarism.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Write down every source that you use. While you are doing research, write down the title, author and publisher of every article, book, website, journal and/or magazine you are retrieving information from. Write down the source first, before you even begin copying down quotes from the research material.
-
2
Use quotation marks around words or sentences that you quote directly from a research text. Write the quote exactly the way the author wrote it and cite it immediately after the quote. Cite the quote by writing the last name of the author and the page number the quote can be found on after the quote in parentheses, like this: "This is the quote you are using" (Hamilton 54).
-
-
3
Cite your source even if you are paraphrasing. You don't have to use quotation marks if you are paraphrasing or summing up someone else's ideas in your own words. You do have to document the source of the idea. If you paraphrase an author's ideas, put the author's name and the page number of the paraphrased material in parentheses at the end of your sentence as shown in Step 2. This is called parenthetical documentation.
-
4
Submit only your own work. Asking someone else to alter your essay in any way constitutes plagiarism. The rule of thumb is that if it is not your own work, it is plagiarized.
-
5
Ask for help. When in doubt about whether or not you are falling into the plagiarism pit, ask your instructor for help. Your teacher would rather you ask than have you fail the course.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Cite your sources every time you use a quotation or paraphrased material. A citation at the end of a paragraph is not sufficient to prevent plagiarism.
Teachers and professors have access to professional programs than can detect plagiarism. Don't even think about trying to get away with it.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
