Why Do We Cite?

• Ethics
     We need to give credit where credit is due
• Do not want to commit fraud
     If you do not cite, you are fraudulently claiming authorship
• Allow reader to track scholarship

When Do We Cite?

• When we quote another’s words
• When we use another’s ideas, data, images, or other creative products   
      Even if we are putting them in our own words
  
• Always cite numbers and statistics

When Do We NOT Need to Cite?

• When the ideas are your own
• When the lab results are your own
• When you are reporting common knowledge
     Can be found in numerous places
     Is widely known by many people
     Can be readily found in general reference sources
     Common proverb or saying
  

What is Plagiarism?

According to the MMU Academic Integrity Policy, Plagiarism is:

• Copying, paraphrasing, or blending words, images, or ideas that are not common knowledge without acknowledging the source.
• Providing false, insufficient or incomplete acknowledgment of sources
  
• Claiming authorship of a work that is not one’s own or that is the result of unauthorized joint effort, including purchasing, downloading, or otherwise acquiring the work
  
• Improper use of quotations
  
• Incomplete or improper use of citations
  

In Summary:

• Cite every fact or idea that is not your idea or common knowledge
• Write your own papers
• Don’t collaborate with others unless authorized
• Don’t reuse an old paper, unless you have permission
• Always use quotation marks if you are quoting another word-for-word.
• If paraphrasing, use your own words