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Using Information Ethically

This guide will introduce you to the importance of using information ethically in your academic work. We will discuss academic integrity, strategies for avoiding plagiarism, and ethical issues with generative artificial intelligence.

Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism and other instances of academic misconduct are often accidental in nature. Habits such as being disorganized with your notes or waiting until the last minute to complete assignments can lead to academic misconduct. However, there are multiple strategies that you can try to help improve your study habits and lower your chances of committing academic misconduct. 

Click on the tabs to read about some strategies you can adopt to better equip yourself against inadvertent plagiarism or academic misconduct throughout your research and writing process.

  • Take effective notes - Write down important information as you come across it and indicate where it comes from. Then when it comes time to use that information in your writing, you'll know how to cite it. You can develop a note-taking style that works for you whether that is in a Google doc with hyperlinks to sources or something as simple as handwritten notecards.  
  • Stay organized and ask for help - It is hard to do your best work when you are stressed out and crunched for time. Do your best to manage your time wisely to avoid having to work on multiple projects at once. Rushed work can result in mistakes. And remember you can reach out to a librarian for help. We are here to work with you to find sources, interpret and analyze sources, or to accurately cite sources.  
  • Work in drafts - For larger, more in-depth assignments, working in drafts is the best way to keep a record of your work over time. Drafting helps you map out and revise ideas without the fear of losing work. Also, research never happens in a straight line. You often have to revisit ideas or tasks throughout the research process and saving drafts helps you keep track of how your research evolved.  
  • Name files appropriately - While it is easily overlooked, developing a file naming system can save you time and help keep your work organized. It will also help prevent you from confusing projects across your various classes.  
  • Use reliable, time-saving tools - Using digital tools, such as reference generators and citation management software, can help you develop accurate citations in seconds. Summon can help with this by clicking on the quotation mark icon next to a source and choosing the citation style you need, whether MLA, APA, or Chicago.  
  • Cite your sources - It is important to remember that we are always building off the work of others. Providing proper attribution to the sources you referenced in your work is not only the ethical thing to do, but it shows your readers that you've done your research. As you go through your writing, you can ask yourself, "How do I know this?"  If the answer is that you learned it from something you've read, heard, or watched, be sure to give those sources credit.  
  • Proofread your work - Reviewing your work before you submit it can help you catch mistakes like accidently missing an in-text citation. Having someone else read your work can be helpful as a new set of eyes to catch errors you may have missed.  

Did I Plagiarize?

Sometimes it is hard to know if you are accidently committing plagiarism. This checklist can help.  

      Before you submit that paper, ensure that you have:

  • Indicated when you have borrowed materials from another person (both for quotes and paraphrases).

  • Enclosed all quoted words, phrases, and sentences in quotation marks and provided a page number.

  • Provided a citation for all paraphrased material just as you would a quotation.

  • Properly used a citation style, such as MLA, APA, or Chicago.

  • Provided a full reference list that included everything you have cited in your paper.