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How to Avoid Plagiarism

This guide will help you avoid plagiarism by using quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing in your research papers.

To avoid plagiarizing...

  • Use quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, to include another writer’s words or ideas into your paper.
  • Credit the author by citing that source with an in-text citation in the body of your paper.
  • Then include a full citation of that source, on the Works Cited or Reference page, which is the last page of your paper.

What is quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?

Quoting:

  • To copy the author's exact words
  • Should be enclosed in quotation marks "like this"
  • Use an in-text citation right after the quote
  • Use when the author said it best
  • Don't use too often

Paraphrasing:

  • Explain the meaning of the author's ideas, in your own words
  • Use an in-text citation right after the paraphrase
  • Then after the paraphrase and citation, add your own ideas or comments

Summarizing:

  • Explain only the author's main points, in your own words
  • Will be a lot shorter than original text
  • Use an in-text citation right after the summary

Source: Quoting, Paraphrasing, & Summarizing from the Ashford University Writing Center


 

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