How Can I Avoid Plagiarism? (Quick Tips)

The concept of plagiarism can be confusing, particularly in the era of easy copying and pasting from documents and online sources. The simplest rules of thumb are to:

• Make careful notes while researching, so that you know what wording is directly quoted from others,
• Cite every source using proper formatting of footnotes and bibliographies in the designated style, and
• Analyze and synthesize material and describe it in your own words using proper paraphrasing techniques.
• Focus on your contribution or perspective on the topic or issue rather than just reporting what the experts say.