Citations
and Plagiarism
(aka
How to Look Smart and Not Fail a Class)
For
full guidelines, check out The Wadsworth Guide. Here’s a crash
course, though. For MLA internal
citations, list in parentheses the author’s last name (or the editor’s last
name, or one of the editors’ last names, if there are multiple authors,
like in a textbook), plus the page number for written sources and the paragraph
number (if possible) for online sources.
The period goes after the last parenthesis. Like this:
When it comes to grammar, the
evidence is clear that, “…readers equate correctness with the writer’s
competence” (Bullock 80).
However,
there is one exception—when you give the author’s name earlier in the sentence.
When it comes to grammar, Bullock
believes that, “…readers equate correctness with the writer’s competence” (80).
If
there’s no author, just list the name of the website or source (example: ABC
News).
For
MLA citation on a work cited page, you can also use a citation generator. For your own information, though, this is how
it’s done:
Article
in a Printed, Scholarly Journal:
Last
name, First name. “Name of
Article.” Name of magazine. page numbers.
Date.
Jacobson,
Elmer. “10 Causes of Global
Warming.” Newsweek. pp. 23-42.
March 3rd, 2006.
Internet
News Site:
Last
name, First name. “Name of
Article.” Name of site. Date of last update. Date you accessed the
site. <site url>.
Twin,
Alexandra. “Fed Can’t Save Stocks.” CNN.
October 8, 2008.
<http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/08/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm?cnn=yes>
Warning:
if you type this then press “enter”, it’ll turn the web address into a
hyperlink. On a PC, press control and Z
at the same time to undo this.
When
you have more than one source, list them alphabetically on your Works Cited
page.
*
OK,
and now an important word on plagiarism…
Plagiarism
is basically using someone else’s ideas, research, statistics, or descriptions
without giving them proper credit. Note: It’s possible to cite something and
still commit plagiarism!
Whenever
you cite something but don’t use quotes, you’re indicating that you’re
paraphrasing (i.e. significantly changing
something into your own words), or referencing some raw fact or idea you
used. If what you cite as a paraphrase
is actually identical—or close to identical—to the original, this constitutes
plagiarism and results in a failing grade, just the same as if you copied a
paper or paragraph directly off the internet.
Remember,
you have to cite EVERYTHING you put in a paper that you didn’t already
know/that isn’t common knowledge. If you
use the author’s/website’s/article’s words directly, you MUST put them in quotes
with an internal citation immediately after.
In general, a student who shows me their rough draft but tells me that
they “haven’t put their citations in yet” is immediately on my radar because it’s
much easier (and safer) to put in your citations as you go.
Again,
if you give an internal citation WITHOUT quotes, but you haven't really changed
the phrasing very much, that’s just as bad as providing no citation at
all. So if I find that phrase (or a very
similar one) online or in an article, you’ve technically plagiarized. And you fail.
Don't
panic—just take a look at this short example to show you what I mean. If you have questions, ask me (or the Writing
Center). Here’s a fictitious passage by
John Smith, from paragraphs 14 and 15 of Ancient
History:
The biblical story of Noah is by
no means the only story of an ancient, cataclysmic flood. In fact, many religions and peoples from the
Greeks to the Aztecs have similar stories; this leads scientists to speculate that
some sort of ancient cataclysm might actually have occurred. Some scientists further speculate, based on
geographical evidence, as well as patterns in the distribution of these myths,
that the flood was caused by a massive meteor strike in the Indian Ocean in
2084 BC. Such a meteor strike would have
triggered great tsunamis and other destructive climate changes.
This calamity was relatively mild
compared to other cataclysmic changes our planet has endured, though. You may have heard that a meteor strike
caused the death of the dinosaurs, but did you know that most scientists and paleontologists
agree that there have been at least five
mass extinctions in the history of our planet, each resulting in the loss of at
least 50% of animal species around at the time of the extinction?
Here
are two examples of situations in which the above passage is cited. The first constitutes plagiarism; the second
does not.
Plagiarized
Version (which results in failure):
There are many stories of floods
in the ancient world. The Greeks and
Aztecs have similar tales, which has led scientists to think that some sort of
ancient flood actually took place. Some
even speculate, based on geographical evidence and patterns in the distribution
of these stories, that the flood was caused by a massive meteor in the Indian
Ocean in 2084 BC. Such a strike would
have triggered tsunamis and other climate changes. However, this was not the first time life on
earth was nearly wiped out; in fact, most scientists agree that it’s happened
at least five times (Smith, 14-15).
Acceptable
Version:
In John Smith’s book, Ancient History, he notes many
intriguing similarities between the story of Noah and the flood, found in the
Bible, and other flood myths throughout the world. He also points out that these similarities and
other evidence has prompted scientists to theorize “…that the flood was caused
by a massive meteor strike in the Indian Ocean in 2084 BC” (Smith, par. 14). However, our planet has endured worse. For example, there may have been “…at least
five mass extinctions in the history of our planet,” like the one that wiped
out the dinosaurs (15). Such events
illustrate how fragile the ecosystem of any given species really is.
The Plagiarized Version is plagiarism because it isn’t clear what ideas come from the author of the paper, and which ideas come from John Smith. Also, the phrasing is nearly identical in many places. The Acceptable Version makes clear which ideas the author is citing, but more importantly, it also puts forth some original ideas. When in doubt, don’t just restate the passage you read; ask yourself why it’s important. Also, you can try setting aside whatever source you’re quoting and restating it from memory. This is a good way to help put it in your own words. Finally, never just drop a quote in a paper; always set it up first.
*
Now,
a quick lesson on commas and semi-colons.
This may not seem like a big deal but small mistakes in grammar really
affect how smart your reader thinks you are.
In other words, typos make you look stupid. They can also cost you a job in the real
world.
A
semi-colon and a period are basically used for the same thing—to separate two
independent clauses (aka what could be a complete sentence). Commas, on the other hand, usually denote
sequence or are used to separate independent and dependent clauses.
Exception:
if you have a sequence that would normally be separated by commas (like items
you bought at a store), but you want to group some of them, you can use
semi-colons to separate the groups. Example:
While I was at the store, I
bought skim and whole milk; white, wheat, and rye bread; and a big-ass box of
frozen chicken.
OK,
now for some practice. What should go in
the blanks below: a comma or a semi-colon?
1)
Poor class participation means a loss of participation
points and unexcused absences for disruptive behavior ____ as a general
rule, rude students cannot pass discussion-based classes.
2)
I like pizza _____ it’s my favorite food.
3)
Jonathan Swift doesn’t actually think we should eat
babies ____ in fact, “A Modest Proposal” is a famous work of satire, or
deliberate exaggeration to prove a point.
In this case, Swift was illustrating the apathy of the rich towards the
starving poor in 18th century Ireland.
4)
I have lived in Osage, Iowa _____ Iowa City, Iowa _____
Carbondale, Illinois and Muncie, Indiana.
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