When do i not have to cite sources

You must carefully indicate which parts of your paper or speech come from an outside source. Simply listing the sources you used at the end of your paper is not enough to avoid charges of plagiarism.

When an instructor asks you to write a research paper or a researched speech, he or she means that the product should include your own ideas and opinions plus evidence from outside sources -- properly cited.

Click on the green arrow inside the box to listen to the tutorial, or see the full screen tutorial by clicking the link at the bottom. This openly licensed content allows others to cite, share, or modify this content, with credit to TCC Library. It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. Most writers realize that they must acknowledge a source when quoting a memorable phrase or sentence.

But when a single word or two are used in a distinctive way, so that the author is creating a new concept or applying it to a new topic, you must give acknowledge the source. Wilson through an influential publication, in which case you should put the single word in quotation marks, at least in your first mention of it in your text.

Facts that are generally accessible the date of the Declaration of Independence, for instance need not be cited to a particular source, but once you go up one level of detail on the information ladder, you probably need to cite the source the number of people who signed the Declaration, for instance.

And note that commonly known facts found in a particular or unusual context should be cited, so that the reader knows how your argument may have been influenced by the context in which you found it. For more, see Common Knowledge. For my purposes, though, these same experiments shed important light on the social capacities of primates.

Building on the work of others is appropriate and desirable, but methods, like specific words and phrases, are a form of intellectual property. Although writing code may seem different from writing papers, the same standards of acknowledgment apply.

Some software algorithms are so well known that they rise to the level of Common Knowledge. Plagiarism is a serious issue in the academic community.

Please visit our online tutorial: Plagiarism for an entertaining and interesting look at why people plagiarize and strategies to avoid it. For many research papers you NEED to do this in order to prove your own points. So use their ideas! Use their words! Read on for more information and examples. Doing research for a paper is an exploration and learning process.

By acknowledging our sources we show our reader the path we took to come to our conclusions. Citations reflect the careful and thorough work you have put into locating and exploring your sources. Citations help readers understand the context of your argument and are a courtesy to the reader, who may share your interest in a particular area of study. Citations allow you to acknowledge those authors who contributed to your learning and your work.

Citations, by illustrating your own learning process, also draw attention to the originality and legitimacy of your own ideas. By citing sources you demonstrate your integrity and skill as a responsible student and participant in your field of study. While professors and scholars may have specific requirements based on the needs of their discipline, there are cases where you should always cite your sources. Direct quotes of more than one word. Paraphrasing or summarizing.

Toggle menu visibility. Ask Another Question:. Answered By: Jennifer Harris. Last Updated: Sep 15, Views: Why Cite? Avoiding Plagiarism Failing to cite sources is considered plagiarism , so when in doubt, cite! Here are some tips to help you increase the quality of your papers and avoid plagiarism: Always cite all of your sources using one style consistently throughout your paper e.

Cite sources using the correct information about the source where you found the information e.