Why is Citing Important?
Citing is important mainly to:
- Avoid plagiarism
- Demonstrate academic Scholarship
Avoid Plagiarism
As Westhphal states, “when writers intentionally, or unintentionally present another person's words, ideas, or work as their own, they are committing plagiarism” (2000). When you commit plagiarism, you are stealing someone else’s creation and are violating the Academic Integrity and Ethical Conduct Policy.
To avoid plagiarizing, you must reference the original work and author in your writing whenever you:
- Copy another person's exact words;
- Paraphrase or summarize someone else's ideas; or
- Present facts, statistics, charts, or diagrams developed by another individual.
Academic Scholarship
In academic writing, you must cite the source of each idea or item of information you use, whether you are quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing. In APA style, the use of In-text and reference page citations give proper credit, allow readers to follow the path of our research, and lend credibility to your arguments. Additionally, citations show respect for those whose ideas have fostered your own research.
Disclaimer
This section is a brief introduction to citations, and does not address all of the issues encountered in writing for an academic audience. Read the plagiarism section of the APA manual (pp. 15-16, 170) for further details. If you have specific questions about plagiarism or academic integrity, please consult your professor.
Introduction to Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
Please click on the links to the right to review successful examples of paraphrasing from the University of Wisconsin Writing Center and to complete practice exercises from Cornel University Plagiearism Exercises.
By following these conventions, not only can you avoid plagiarism but you can enhance the authority of your writing by:
- Having your citation of sources lend the authority, reputation, and standing of the scholars you have cited extended to your work;
- Enabling readers to understand and track your research
- Upholding the American academic tradition of giving credit for others' ideas, and in turn, others using your ideas will give you credit for your work.
Plagiarism is more easily avoided if you: (1) take accurate and complete notes, reflecting the source of the ideas you encounter; and (2) learn how to use citation styles.
References:
Harvey, G. (2008). Writing with sources: A guide for students (2nd ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Hackett
Spatt, B. (2003). Writing from sources (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/ St. Martin’s.
Westphal, D. (2000). Plagiarism. Retrieved from http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/research/plagiarism.html
The School of Education's Academic Integrity and Ethical Conduct Policy
Academic integrity and ethical conduct is critical. Please reveiw The School of Education's Academic Integrity and Ethical Conduct Policy on the SOE website.
