Using Information Ethically
	Plagiarism and the Scholarly "Conversation"

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is taking credit for language or ideas not your own. It is a form of theft, considered a crime in the academic community. It carries severe penalties. At Humboldt State University, these may involve receiving an F in your course and suspension or expulsion from the University. See the HSU Academic Honesty Policy for more information.

Research and scholarship often build on or refer to the work of others. It is not wrong to use others' ideas, or even their words. It is wrong to present them as your own.

How can I avoid unintentional plagiarism?

• Keep careful notes as you are doing your research.
• Rephrase ideas into your own words as you take notes.
• Document your research by creating a complete bibliography (also called a list of references or works cited) that includes full citations to all your sources. The next section of this OWL explains how to cite your sources.
• Use the guidelines below in deciding what you need to cite and what you don't.
• It is sometimes difficult to tell how much of an idea is your own thinking and how much is from your source. If you are confused or uncertain about the need to document something, consult your instructor.

Does everything need to be documented?

No. Some types of information and ideas do not usually need to be documented. For example, "Sacramento is the capital of California," "American independence is celebrated on July 4th," or "Arcata is in Humboldt County," are all examples of well-known facts that can be verified easily. Their accuracy is not in doubt, and they would not normally need to be documented.

Common or widely shared opinions do not usually need to be documented, either. For example, you could probably state that "electronic technology has changed society in many ways," or "the Vietnam War caused serious divisions in American society" without documentation.

However

If you were quoting someone who said or wrote that statement, you would need to cite your source.

And

What is considered "common knowledge" can vary.

Therefore

Especially at the beginning of your academic career, it is wise to check with your instructor before assuming that a fact or an opinion is commonly enough known not to require documentation.

Besides avoiding plagiarism, why do scholars and other researchers document their findings with footnotes and bibliographies?

Documentation establishes the accuracy, authority, and reliability of the information presented.

Notes or reference lists will direct other researchers to sources of additional or more complete information than were included in the paper, speech, or presentation.

Published research is a kind of conversation among scholars, and documentation is an important part of the exchange. You can benefit from this by consulting the sources that have been cited in resources you use for your research. Essentially, you'll be getting recommendations from experts on additional sources of information to use.