Citations
What does it mean to cite something?
In the context of writing papers and conducting research, to cite something means to credit the original author
of information or an idea that is not your own.
When do I need to cite sources?
So how do you know when to cite? A few basic rules apply.
1. If you quote a resource, cite it.
2. If you paraphrase someone else's idea or statement, cite it.
3. If you state a fact that is not common knowledge, cite it.
For example, the statement "the Internet has brought many changes to the field of journalism" does not need a
citation because most people are aware of this. The statement "newspaper circulation has dropped by 20
percent because of the Internet" does need a citation because a specific fact has been stated that is not common
knowledge. Furthermore, readers may want to know where this information came from so that they can evaluate
it to see how reliable it is.
4. If you're unsure, cite it (or ask your professor). Source: Leatherby Libraries http://chapman.libguides.com/content.php?pid=147772&sid=1256613
Milner Library. (2010). Citing sources. Retrieved from http://ilstu.libguides.com/content.php?pid=71579&sid=533855
APA Citation Formatting
If you’ve been asked to submit a paper in APA format, your instructor is asking you to format the page and
present the content in a specific way.
What is APA?
Writers generally use APA formatting in fields such as psychology, sociology, criminal justice, health sciences,
and education.
MLA is generally used in the humanities, foreign languages, English and literature.
How are MLA and APA different?
Let’s start with APA
Here’s an example of APA formatting both as it appears “in-text” and as it would appear in the “References”
list:
In Text:
Critics of the cartoon have even stated that “Bugs Bunny may appear to be a cuddly wiseacre who means no
harm, but the fact is that he is a hostile, destructive force”
(Ellis, 1994, p. 409).
or
According to Ellis (1994), “Bugs Bunny may appear to be a cuddly wiseacre who means no harm, but the fact is
that he is a hostile, destructive force” (p. 409)
Reference Page
Ellis, N. (1994). Bugs bunny is not what you think he is. Cartoon Studies Quarterly, 63, 406-21.
Similarities between APA & MLA
1. Papers are double spaced
2. Margins are one inch all around (Note. Graduate students may be required to use 1.5 inch margin on the left,
for binding).
3. Page numbers must be included and positioned in the upper-right corner of the paper.
4. Page headings are positioned on the upper-right hand corner preceding the page number.
5. Sources must be cited at the end of the paper.
Differences
APA
Requires a title page
Requires an abstract
Block quotations are
indented five spaces from
the left margin.
In-text citation places the
author’s last name, date of
publication, and the page
number of the reference in
parenthesis.
Bibliography is titled
“References”
MLA
Does not require a title
page
Doesn’t require an abstract
Block quotations are single
spaced and double
indented (10 spaces) from
the left margin.
In-text citation places the
author’s last name and
page number of the
reference in parenthesis.
Bibliography is titled
“Works Cited”
APA is fairly simple, once you get the hang of it.
For more help with APA, check out http://www.apastyle.org/
So... why is formatting important?
Three Reasons Why Citation is Important
Reason One: Because ideas are the currency of academia
First, citing sources is important because the currency of academia is ideas. As a result, academics want to
accumulate that currency; they want to get credit for their contributions. When a writer cites ideas, that writer
honors those who initiated the ideas.
Reason Two: Because failing to cite violates the rights of the person who originated the idea
Second, keeping track of sources is important because, if you use someone else’s idea without giving credit, you
violate that person’s ownership of the idea. That sense of violation you feel, the sense that something valuable
has been stolen from you, suggests why failure to cite sources hurts another person.
Reason Three: Because academics need to be able to trace the origin of ideas
Third, keeping track of sources is important because academics value being able to trace the way ideas develop.
Giving credit to the original source of ideas is the right thing to do, as well as the basis on which academia is
built.
Basically, we cite and use proper formatting because it is respectful, proper, organized and systematic.
If you have any other questions about APA formatting, please talk to your professor, consult your textbook, or
make an appointment with an OWC professional tutor. Thank you!
Source: Brandman University Online Writing Community Basic APA Formatting.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of another’s words or ideas as your own.
Like cheating, plagiarism is also implying that another person's work is your own.
Plagiarism is a form of cheating. You commit plagiarism if you:
•
submit a paper you have not written to be graded or reviewed as your original work.
•
copy answers or text from another classmate and submit them as your own.
•
quote or paraphrase from another paper, a book, a journal article, or a Web page without using quotation
marks, indenting the block of text, and crediting the original author.
•
use long pieces of text or unique phrasings without using quotation marks, indenting the block of text,
and acknowledging the original source.
•
cite data without crediting the original source.
•
propose another author's idea as if it were your own.
•
present another author's structure or sequence of ideas as your own without giving the original author
credit.
•
fabricate references or use incorrect references.
•
submit someone else's computer program or
spreadsheet with minor alterations as your own work.
This is not a definitive list - any action which implies that someone else's work is your own can be considered
plagiarism. However, things like studying in groups and copying a classmate's notes from classes you may have
missed are not necessarily acts of plagiarism or cheating. These are things your instructor should address when
giving an assignment. If you have any questions about whether working together and sharing notes is OK or not,
ask your instructor. It is better to ask for clarification before you start than to have to defend your actions later.
Source: Leatherby Libraries http://chapman.libguides.com/content.php?pid=147772&sid=1255935
Penn State. (2009). Academic integrity, plagiarism, copyright lesson. Retrieved from
http://istudy.psu.edu/FirstYearModules/CopyrightPlagiarism/PlagiarismInfo.html
Academic Integrity
Standards of Academic Integrity
As a community of scholars, Brandman University emphasizes the mutual responsibility of all members to seek
knowledge honestly and in good faith. Students are responsible for doing their own work, and academic
dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated anywhere in the University. In order to safeguard the conditions
under which scholarship is performed, measured, and evaluated, the following will serve to define academic
dishonesty, to identify procedures for hearing cases involving academic integrity violations, and to give
suggested guidelines for sanctions according to the offense.
Academic Integrity Violations
Academic dishonesty can take a number of forms. It includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test or
examination; claiming the work of another as your own; plagiarizing any paper, research project, or assignment;
or falsely submitting material to fulfill course requirements.
Cheating includes unauthorized copying from the work of another student, with or without that student's
consent, using notes or other unauthorized material during a test period, and giving or receiving assistance from
another when it is expected the student will perform his or her own work. Falsifying data to show either the
process or the product of scholarly examination to be different from what actually occurred is also considered
dishonest. This includes falsely reporting attendance or participation in any field‐work experience.
Students may not submit work done in one course to satisfy the requirements of another course, unless both
instructors agree beforehand to accept such work. Forged or altered documents may not be presented. This
includes transcripts, add/drop forms, or any academic form which has been falsified or on which a professor's
signature, or anyone else's signature, has been forged or altered. Assisting any other person to engage in an act
of academic dishonesty is an independent violation of the University’s academic integrity standards.
Failure to report any previous academic work at another college or University is also considered a violation of
academic integrity.
Learn more about Brandman University's disciplinary actions for academic integrity violoations (see p. 20,
Section B: "Procedures for Hearing and Investigation")
Source: Leatherby Libraries http://chapman.libguides.com/content.php?pid=147772&sid=1256053
Brandman University. (n.d.). Student Conduct Code. Retrieved from
http://www.brandman.edu/resources/forms/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf
Turnitin
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•
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A tool embedded inside Blackboard
Anti-plagiarism software
Documents are uploaded to it and assessed against a database of papers, journals, websites, and other
forms of text
Compares the similarity of the “turned-in” document with existing resources
A Turnitin drop-box inside Blackboard is clearly identified with an icon, but it works the same as the
“regular” drop-box for submission.