Student Tools for Plagiarism in the Classroom
Avoiding Plagiarism
The best way to avoid plagiarism is to develop good research habits
- Ask your librarian whether your school uses Noodletools, Easybib or another tool.
- EasyBib will help you cite, but NoodleTools will help you learn how to take notes carefully and properly.
- Write down the citation details of all sources you consult.
- Keep notes (paraphrased or quoted) and their citation details together.
- Learn proper paraphrasing – it isn't just changing a few words.
- In your notes, clearly differentiate among quotes, paraphrasing, summaries, common knowledge and personal opinion.
- Learn how to correctly cite sources.
- Ask your teacher for help.
- Use a guide like this example of a research note taking guide.
Cite Properly
Correctly quoting starts with good research and is the foundation of avoiding plagiarism
- Citing strengthens your writing.
- Citing reveals that you have researched your idea and synthesized all the information into your own body of work.
- Citing shows that you have reached beyond your own world and listened to the ideas of others.
- Citing someone else shows that other important people support your own thoughts.
- By quoting oppositional thoughts, you demonstrate that you have thought about both sides of an issue.
- Citing makes you sound intelligent and will probably improve your grade.
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United States Copyright Office
The US Copyright office serves the community of both creators and those who use created material with thier website containing a compilation of laws, regulations, policies, and files on copyright law. The Office's mission is: "To promote creativity by administering and sustaining an effective national copyright system." Accessed November6, 2012 from http://www.copyright.gov.
