Documentation

The following documentation handouts provide examples of standard reference sources and electronic sources.

• MLA Documentation of Reference Sources

• MLA Documentation of Electronic Sources

Plagiarism

Presenting another's words or ideas as your own (i.e., not documenting them) is called plagiarism.  This form of intellectual theft may range from an intentional purchase of a term paper to the intentional or unintentional and inadvertent failure to use proper documentation in a paper.  In any case, plagiarism is a serious academic offense and can lead to serious consequences.

Some examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:

• taking a concept or idea from a source without citing (accidental or deliberate)

• using original text when paraphrasing

• using a visual without documenting

• buying a paper from a term paper service

• hiring someone to write a paper

• copying a friend's paper and turning it in as your own

• loaning a paper to a friend

• copying and pasting a paragraph from a web page into the text of a paper without citing the source

The following Web sites offer tips for avoiding plagiarism and discuss when to cite and how to paraphrase sources.

• Avoiding Plagiarism (Hamilton College)

• Avoiding Plagiarism (Purdue University Writing Lab)

• Examples of Plagiarism (Princeton University)

• Using Source Materials: An Introduction (University of Richmond Writing Center)

• Paraphrase: Write it in Your Own Worlds (Purdue University Writing Lab)

The information on plagiarism was taken from:

Internet Revision Committee. "Lesson 7: Documenting Internet and Other Online Resources. Module
     1: Intellectual Property Issues." LIS2004: Introduction to Internet Research. 2002. 05 Aug. 2002
     <http://faculty.valenciacc.edu/jdelisle/lis2004/7_mod1.htm>.