Writing Research Papers: Sorting the Noodles from the Soup

As we close on the last chapter of the book we must not forgot one of the most vital tools researchers must use when gathering one’s data. Plagiarism! What is it? To simply this term, it is an act of passing off someone else’s work as your very own. These actions would include: purchasing papers from friends or online sources, copying paragraphs from books, articles, online sources without using the quotation marks, references and appropriate citations. As students, writers and future researchers remember to always provide credit to the sources used for any papers written.

Why do people do this? Well some plagiarize and do not realize that they have committed this act. How does this happen? Well innocent plagiarism occurs because one simply failed to include the sources that were used. However, this is not an excuse. Whether the plagiarism was innocent or an intentional act it should never be practiced.

How do you avoid plagiarism? Always cite and reference the sources used for your research project or any paper you are writing. Do not copy from books or online sites and pass the work off as your own, not even a simple sentence! When paraphrasing what you have learned be sure to restate your finds in your own words. Using proper citations and referencing the author or authors is always the key.

So as we begin to wrap up our research papers remember stay golden! Give credit where credit is due and always cite your sources.