Cite RightCite Right

How to USE the research you find!How to USE the research you find!

Workshop OverviewWorkshop Overview

What is plagiarism?What is plagiarism? Mistakes We Might MakeMistakes We Might Make How to Cite RightHow to Cite Right How to:How to:

– summarize, paraphrase, & quote summarize, paraphrase, & quote Brief note on citation style Brief note on citation style

resourcesresources Samples to work through Samples to work through

What this workshop What this workshop will will notnot do… do… This workshop will not cover everything you This workshop will not cover everything you

ever needed to know about writing or citations. ever needed to know about writing or citations. This is to set a foundation for solid This is to set a foundation for solid techniques…techniques…

We have several additional citation style We have several additional citation style workshops each semester in:workshops each semester in:– APAAPA– ChicagoChicago– MLAMLA

To discuss individual techniques or difficulties To discuss individual techniques or difficulties you are welcome to meet with an:you are welcome to meet with an:– Academic coach in the TRC,Academic coach in the TRC,– English tutor in the TRC, or English tutor in the TRC, or – Tutor in the Writing Center.Tutor in the Writing Center.

What is plagiarism?What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is passing off other people’s Plagiarism is passing off other people’s work without giving credit. work without giving credit.

It is unethical because it steals and It is unethical because it steals and deceives.deceives.– WORK includes original ideas, strategies, WORK includes original ideas, strategies,

research, art graphics, computer research, art graphics, computer programs, music, and other creative programs, music, and other creative expression.expression.

– SOURCE includes published works and SOURCE includes published works and unpublished works (such as class lectures, unpublished works (such as class lectures, handouts, speeches, etc.)handouts, speeches, etc.)

From Avoiding Plagiarism: Mastering the Art of Scholarship a UTSA Publication of Student Judicial Affairs

Mistakes We Might Mistakes We Might MakeMake Misrepresenting someone else’s work Misrepresenting someone else’s work

as your own.as your own. Copying sentences or paragraphs Copying sentences or paragraphs

without properly citing the source.without properly citing the source. Paraphrasing or summarizing without Paraphrasing or summarizing without

proper acknowledgment. proper acknowledgment. Using specific facts without crediting Using specific facts without crediting

the source (other than “common the source (other than “common knowledge.”)knowledge.”)

What IS common What IS common knowledge?knowledge?

Common Common – When the Civil War When the Civil War

waswas– When Texas became When Texas became

part of U.S.part of U.S.

Needs citationNeeds citation– Opinion about Civil WarOpinion about Civil War– Disputable fact or not Disputable fact or not

commonly known- i.e. commonly known- i.e. when humans first when humans first came to the Americascame to the Americas

Even if you had to look up the information, but most people wouldn’t have had to, then it is considered “common knowledge,” but I still highly encourage you to cite EVERYTHING- even encyclopedias…

How to Cite RightHow to Cite Right

1.1. Cite EVERYTHING you used for your Cite EVERYTHING you used for your paper.paper.

2.2. There are TWO places where you There are TWO places where you mention the cited work:mention the cited work:

1.1. Body of your paperBody of your paper

2.2. Bibliography/Reference ListBibliography/Reference List

3.3. Use a style guide.Use a style guide.

Other Tips to Cite Other Tips to Cite RightRight Avoid internet paper mills. Avoid internet paper mills. When you research, separate When you research, separate

sources’ ideas from yours. sources’ ideas from yours. – Summarize a paper in your own Summarize a paper in your own

words on a notecard, but put your words on a notecard, but put your thoughts about it on a legal pad, on thoughts about it on a legal pad, on a separate card, or somewhere else.a separate card, or somewhere else.

Other Tips to Cite Other Tips to Cite RightRight Learn how to get credit for the Learn how to get credit for the

connectionsconnections you make by you make by correctly: correctly: – SummarizingSummarizing– ParaphrasingParaphrasing– QuotingQuoting

SummarizeSummarize

Distill the main points from the Distill the main points from the text. text.

Focus on key concepts, not on Focus on key concepts, not on sub-points or supporting details. sub-points or supporting details.

From Lindsay Radcliffe, UTSA Tutor and NCB Instructor

SummarizeSummarize

Should be comprehensive but concise. Should be comprehensive but concise. – For example, a 15-page article may be For example, a 15-page article may be

summarized in a paragraph or two. summarized in a paragraph or two. – For example, this might be used for For example, this might be used for

annotated bibliography assignments.annotated bibliography assignments. The purpose of the summary/abstract is The purpose of the summary/abstract is

to give scholars a “preview” of the to give scholars a “preview” of the material covered in the article and let material covered in the article and let them decide whether they will take the them decide whether they will take the time to read it.time to read it.

From Lindsay Radcliffe, UTSA Tutor and NCB Instructor

ParaphraseParaphrase

Unlike a summary, a paraphrase Unlike a summary, a paraphrase does not condense material; it does not condense material; it includes includes both both main points main points andand supporting details. supporting details. – Thus, your paraphrase will be about the Thus, your paraphrase will be about the

same length as the original passage. same length as the original passage. – Therefore you would not paraphrase an Therefore you would not paraphrase an

entire 15 page article, but you could entire 15 page article, but you could paraphrase an important sentence or paraphrase an important sentence or paragraph.paragraph.

From Lindsay Radcliffe, UTSA Tutor and NCB Instructor

ParaphraseParaphrase

Translate an author’s ideas, point Translate an author’s ideas, point for point, into your own words. for point, into your own words.

Paraphrased material looks very Paraphrased material looks very convincing in a research paper; it convincing in a research paper; it shows that the writer understands shows that the writer understands her sources well enough to her sources well enough to express them in her own voice.express them in her own voice.

From Lindsay Radcliffe, UTSA Tutor and NCB Instructor

How to ParaphraseHow to Paraphrase

Select a single paragraph from Select a single paragraph from your full-length article. your full-length article.

Then, paraphrase it by translating Then, paraphrase it by translating it into your own words. it into your own words.

Change both the vocabulary and Change both the vocabulary and the sentence structurethe sentence structure to free to free yourself from the author’s voice.yourself from the author’s voice.

From Lindsay Radcliffe, UTSA Tutor and NCB Instructor

QuoteQuote

When you quote you present When you quote you present another writer’s actual words to another writer’s actual words to support your own ideas. support your own ideas.

As an academic writer, you will use As an academic writer, you will use quotations for four major purposes: quotations for four major purposes: 1.1. to support your ideas;to support your ideas;2.2. to preserve special or elegant to preserve special or elegant

language;language;3.3. to comment on the quotation; or to comment on the quotation; or 4.4. to distance yourself from the quotation to distance yourself from the quotation

(Spatt).(Spatt).From Lindsay Radcliffe, UTSA Tutor and NCB Instructor

Quoting Helpful HintsQuoting Helpful Hints

Don’t string quotes together or put them Don’t string quotes together or put them back to back. back to back.

Example (don’t do this…) Example (don’t do this…) – John Smith said, “children can be very obstinate if John Smith said, “children can be very obstinate if

you don’t give them what they want,” but then you don’t give them what they want,” but then stated that “adults can be equally obstinate and stated that “adults can be equally obstinate and act like children.” Rosy Campo refutes this, “Both act like children.” Rosy Campo refutes this, “Both children and adults have a tendency to be children and adults have a tendency to be obstinate regardless of the situation.” obstinate regardless of the situation.”

Better…Better…– John Smith and Rosy Campo are on differing sides John Smith and Rosy Campo are on differing sides

of the argument that children and adults can be of the argument that children and adults can be stubborn whether you appease them or not. stubborn whether you appease them or not.

Quoting Helpful HintsQuoting Helpful Hints

Save quotes for when you think it is Save quotes for when you think it is crucialcrucial to present the source’s exact to present the source’s exact words. (i.e. statements of law, rules, or words. (i.e. statements of law, rules, or policy– or specific coined terms or policy– or specific coined terms or jargon from that author.)jargon from that author.)

Learn how to add your own Learn how to add your own connections and comments.connections and comments.– Be Be engagedengaged in the research. in the research.– If this troubles you or you need more If this troubles you or you need more

clarification, please attend the Critical clarification, please attend the Critical Thinking workshop that the TRC offers. Thinking workshop that the TRC offers.

Note on Citation StylesNote on Citation Styles

The best way to avoid plagiarism The best way to avoid plagiarism is to cite EVERYTHING! is to cite EVERYTHING!

No thought is truly ever your own No thought is truly ever your own (unless you really did invent the (unless you really did invent the wheel…) wheel…)

More Notes on More Notes on Citation Styles Citation Styles We absorb much of what we read We absorb much of what we read

and therefore are liable to and therefore are liable to regurgitate that back into a paper regurgitate that back into a paper we write… so be cautious!we write… so be cautious!

Learn the citation style Learn the citation style appropriate for your discipline.appropriate for your discipline.

Citation StylesCitation Styles

Basics are: APA, MLA, and Basics are: APA, MLA, and Chicago/TurabianChicago/Turabian

The PURPOSE is uniformity.The PURPOSE is uniformity. Find which one your professor or Find which one your professor or

department wants. And when you department wants. And when you pick one- stick with it!pick one- stick with it!

Thesis/Dissertation Thesis/Dissertation Style ManualsStyle Manuals According to the Graduate School’s thesis According to the Graduate School’s thesis

and dissertation guides, each discipline and dissertation guides, each discipline should have a style manual selected, but if should have a style manual selected, but if not- the default style manual is:not- the default style manual is:

A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and DissertationsTheses, and Dissertations, by Kate Turabian, by Kate Turabian– Also known as Turabian style, which is derived Also known as Turabian style, which is derived

from Chicago, and covered in the TRC’s Chicago from Chicago, and covered in the TRC’s Chicago Writing Style Workshop offered each semester. Writing Style Workshop offered each semester.

Citation StylesCitation Styles

You aren’t required to memorize it, You aren’t required to memorize it, just learn how to use the manual!!just learn how to use the manual!!

Also, the Library asked us to point Also, the Library asked us to point out that:out that:– Many search databases will give you Many search databases will give you

the citation in a certain format, but the citation in a certain format, but please double check everything! please double check everything! Sometimes information is missing, Sometimes information is missing, etc.etc.

Citation Style Citation Style ResourcesResources Graduate Student Learning Assistance Graduate Student Learning Assistance

website: website: http://www.utsa.edu/trcss/gslahttp://www.utsa.edu/trcss/gsla

Diana Hacker- Research & Diana Hacker- Research & Documentation Resources: Documentation Resources: http://http://www.dianahacker.com/resdocwww.dianahacker.com/resdoc//

UTSA Library Citation Resources: UTSA Library Citation Resources: http://http://www.lib.utsa.eduwww.lib.utsa.edu/Research/Subject/ /Research/Subject/ citingguide.htmlcitingguide.html

PLAGIARISM in Action

Let’s take a brief look at three of the most common types of plagiarism.

Let’s assume that two students are writing research papers for a history course. On a visit to the library they both come across the following excerpt from a compilation, Napoleon: The Final Verdict, copyrighted in 1996 by Arms & Armour Press.

The passage refers to the closing stages of the Battle of Waterloo and was written by Andrew Uffindell.

Learning in the Academy: An Introduction to the Culture of Scholarship, Creighton University, College of Arts & Sciences, 2nd printing, 2005

The Original textThe Original text

At this stage many a general would have broken off the battle and retreated. But Napoleon could not afford a single setback for it would destroy his reputation and embolden the political opposition in Paris. He had no choice but to stake everything on an attack by his Guard against Wellington. To boost his army’s flagging morale, Napoleon sent messengers around the battlefield falsely to announce that Marshal Grouchy was arriving. This ruse was risky for if Napoleon’s troops discovered the truth, the sudden disillusionment would shatter the army. But Napoleon was a gambler, and the cheers of “Vive l’Empereur! Soldats, voila Grouchy!” certainly galvanized his army into a renewed effort in support of the Guard attack.

Copying Words Copying Words DirectlyDirectlyExample A- UnacceptableAll seemed lost for Napoleon, and many a

general would have broken off the battle and retreated. Yet, he could not afford to do so as a single setback would destroy his reputation and harden the political opposition in Paris.

The words in italics are directly taken from the original text, therefore it is copied and not acceptable. Nothing gives credit to the author.

Copying Words Copying Words DirectlyDirectlyExample B- AcceptableAccording to Uffindell, all seemed lost for Napoleon, and

“many a general would have broken off the battle and retreated. But Napoleon could not afford a single setback for it would destroy his reputation and embolden the political opposition in Paris” (186).

This is acceptable because the writer put the author’s words in quotations and then bookended the sentence. – Bookending is putting the author’s name at the front of

the sentence or paragraph and putting the citation or page number at the end. Bookending is used to indicate that the entire sentence or paragraph is credited to that author.

BlendingBlendingExample A- Unacceptable Napoleon had a choice to make. He could either retreat and face

almost certain political collapse back in Paris or stake everything by confronting the British troops with his Imperial Guard. Never one to break off an engagement willingly, Napoleon chose the latter option. Then, to boost his troops’ morale, the Emperor dispatched messengers around the camp with the false announcement that Marshal Grouchy would soon arrive to relieve them.

DiscussionDiscussion– ““In Example A, the writer picks numerous words and phrases In Example A, the writer picks numerous words and phrases

from Uffindell’s paragraph, sometimes changing their form from Uffindell’s paragraph, sometimes changing their form slightly (for example, substituting slightly (for example, substituting false announcement false announcement for for falsely falsely to announceto announce). But he does nothing to disguise his wholesale ). But he does nothing to disguise his wholesale adoption of Uffindell’s analysis of the situation. The resulting text adoption of Uffindell’s analysis of the situation. The resulting text is plagiarized because the author could fairly claim very little as is plagiarized because the author could fairly claim very little as his own his own work work beyond some superficial editing.”– beyond some superficial editing.”– Learning in the Academy: An Introduction to the Culture of Scholarship, Creighton University, College of Arts & Sciences, 2nd printing, 2005

BlendingBlending

Example B- Acceptable According to Andrew Uffindell, Napoleon had a

challenging decision to make at this point: either fall back and face almost certain rejection at home or “stake everything on an attack by his Guard against Wellington.” Never one to accept defeat, Napoleon chose the latter and, “[to] boost his army’s flagging morale, ... sent messengers around the battlefield falsely to announce that Marshal Grouchy was arriving” (Uffindell 186).

This writer has put everything in quotation marks that This writer has put everything in quotation marks that she borrowed and has bookended the paragraph and she borrowed and has bookended the paragraph and properly cited the original author. She has also properly cited the original author. She has also integrated the quotes well, using her own words and integrated the quotes well, using her own words and words that she felt were crucial to the understanding of words that she felt were crucial to the understanding of this historical moment. this historical moment.

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

Example A- Unacceptable Out of fear that his debilitated army would be unable

or willing to make a final charge, Napoleon started the rumor that Marshal Grouchy was nearby and would be arriving to assist them at any moment. This could have been a dangerous move for the Corsican; if his soldiers had found out it was no more than a rumor, they would most definitely have lost heart and with it the desire to fight. But Napoleon was always one to take chances. His ruse worked, and a newly invigorated army prepared to attack the British line.

Even though the writer has relied entirely on their own words here, it is still plagiarism because they did not properly cite the original author.

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

Example B- Acceptable According to historian Andrew Uffindell, out of fear that

his debilitated army would be unable or willing to make a final charge, Napoleon started the rumor the Marshal Grouchy was nearby and would be arriving to assist them at any moment. This could have been a dangerous move for the Corsican; if his soldiers had found out it was no more than a rumor they would most definitely have lost heart and with it the desire to fight. But Napoleon was always one to take chances. His ruse worked and a newly invigorated army prepared to attack the British line (Uffindell 186).

This is acceptable because the writer cited the author. Note that these are the exact same words as the previous example, but bookending it makes is acceptable!

Resources used for this Resources used for this presentationpresentation Learning in the Academy: AN

Introduction to the Culture of Scholarship, Creighton University, College of Arts & Scienceshttp://puffin.creighton.edu/ccas/forms/LearninginAcademy.pdf

Avoiding Plagiarism: Mastering the Art

of Scholarship, a UTSA Publication of Student Judicial Affairs.

SFU Library- Subject Research websiteSFU Library- Subject Research websitehttp://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/subjectguihttp://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/subjectguides/engl/classes/EssayArch.htmdes/engl/classes/EssayArch.htm

When in doubt…When in doubt…

CITE IT!!CITE IT!!