The article discusses unintentional plagiarism that can occur when people don’t know all the rules for where they got their words, quotes, or ideas. To avoid plagiarism, it is important to keep track of sources, use proper citation methods, and always give credit. This can be done by creating a bookmark file, using the cut and paste option, writing down the full title of the source, author(s), and page numbers, and using index cards, notebooks, or laptops to keep track of sources. It is better to write a weaker paper than to inaccurately quote or discredit the people who helped with research and writing.
When people learn to write reports that require research, common mistakes can accidentally evoke a charge of plagiarism. Obviously, taking material directly from something else, presenting someone else’s work as your own, or buying essays on the Internet is no way to avoid plagiarism. In this article, the focus will be on the unintentional plagiarism that can occur when people don’t know all the rules for where they got their words, quotes or ideas, instead of these more deliberate acts of plagiarism.
Especially with internet searching being so common and being able to look through the many sources you might come across when you’re researching, one of the most important things to do while you’re searching is keep track of each time you look at a new page to avoid plagiarism. If you’re conducting a search from your home computer, one of the best ways to keep track of it is to create a bookmark file specific to your search. This is useful when you want to go back and look at something again, and it further reminds you of each piece of work you’ve looked at.
Even if you don’t specifically use a work when writing your paper, you may want to keep track of each piece so that you can add a list of consulted works to your bibliography. Depending on your citation method, which differs in different academic fields, you may call these “secondary sources” or “consulted works.” Alternatively they can only be included in a bibliography.
Another useful method if you are looking for quote material on the internet is to use the cut and paste option on your computer. First copy the web address and paste it into any word processing document. Then copy any quotes or material you might paraphrase under the address. Also make sure you type or copy and paste the author name into the word document.
When you use material from books, magazines or newspapers, you will be using exactly the same method to avoid plagiarism. Write down the full title of the source, the author(s), the titles of any articles, the date and place of publication, then write any citations that you think might be relevant. Be sure to include page numbers for an entire article, and when quoting, list the specific page number you derived the citation from. Be specific about your page numbers as some people will want to go back and look at your source material.
Some people use index cards to keep their sources intact before writing. Others use notebooks or laptops. These are all good ways to keep track of what you’ve read so you can avoid plagiarism. Don’t forget that even when you paraphrase someone else’s theories or ideas, you must give credit. If you paraphrase a few paragraphs of someone’s thoughts, name that person and include a quote where you can find the full quote.
In summary, most ways to avoid plagiarism can be attributed to keeping good records and making sure that accurate citations go into everything you write. To help people better understand your topic, list jobs you may have looked at but not used, as others may want to follow your path for different or similar topics. Make sure you always give credit. If you can’t remember where you found something or what page number you found it on, don’t use it. It is far better to write a weaker paper if you absolutely have to and avoid plagiarism than to inaccurately quote or discredit the people who essentially helped you write your paper through their research and writings.
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