Why we use sources?

• To show that our writings do not rely on personal opinion
• To show how we found our sources and how we formed our own conclusions
• To show our ability to use the information in our paper by organizing it in central points, arguments or sections
• To allow our reader to follow up references we used so they can learn and further explore more
• To allow the reader to evaluate the ideas and information we are presenting
• To avoid plagiarism

Types of Sources

• Books:  In-depth, detailed coverage of a topic and background information
• Articles: These include scholarly journals, trade publications and magazines.
• Newspapers: Up-to-date, national and international information for a general audience.
• Internet: Wide variety of information. Evaluate websites carefully.

Step 1

What is your assignment?

Read your assignment carefully and make sure you understand it.

Ask your instructor if you have questions.

Make sure you know what the requirements are, such as.....

• Due dates?
• Types of sources required or not allowed?
• Is there a particular number of sources required?
• How many pages?
• Are there formatting requirements (margins, font, headers, etc)?
• Required citation style?
• Special requirements?

Step 2

You are now ready to begin your research process:

• Define your topic:  What do you know about your topic?  Example: Social media issues
• Research question: What do you want to know about your topic? Example: How do online users of social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, address privacy issues?
• Plan:  How will you find the information you need? 

  Finding the best information for you requires a plan. Think about where you are going to get the information to answer your questions. The best research incorporates information gathered from many, various and credible sources including (but not limited to):

• Books
• Journals (Scholarly, Popular and Trade)
• Newspapers
• Websites
• Reference resources
• Videos and other multimedia
• Statistics

Step 3

Evaluate your sources.  

Step 4

What Is Plagiarism? Definition & Examples

Consequences of Academic Plagiarism

Plagiarism may not seem like a big deal, but there can be some severe and/or long lasting effects:

• Failing grade (assignment and/or course)
• Note on transcript for academic dishonesty
• Loss of financial aid
• Academic probation or expulsion
• Limited career opportunities (can become a barrier to getting a job or can cause loss of employment)

Avoiding Plagiarism

In order to avoid plagiarism The MLA Handbook provides a "universal set of guidelines" for citing sources across all format types. Luckily, the 9th edition mainly expands upon the rules listed in the 8th edition. There are no significant changes in Works Cited/In-Text Citations (whew!).

These guidelines state that, if given, these major elements should be included in the citation:

1. Author.
2. Title of Source.
3. Title of Container,
4. Other Contributors,
5. Version,
6. Number,
7. Publisher,
8. Publication date,
9. Location.

Check out Purdue University Online Writing Lab website for detailed examples and instructions.

Example of plagiarism in music

Copyright and plagiarism doesn't only happen in academia.  It happens in everyday life too. Checkout the video below: