Citing Sources 

All members of the SJU academic community—students, faculty members, and administrators—are encouraged to read the University's Academic Honesty Policy.

Plagiarism = Intellectual theft

Definition: Plagiarism is using another's words, ideas, or artistic creations and presenting them as one's own. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional.

The SJU Department of English's required resource for undergraduate writing and citation style is: Easy Writer by Andrea Lundsford. It is available for purchase at the SJU Bookstore and copies are available for use in the Drexel Library (inquire at the Service Desk or the Information Desk). In addition to presenting clear instructions on documenting sources in MLA and APA styles, this guide offers suggestions on orgainizing research, avoiding plagiarism, and the mechanics of writing.

Types of Plagiarism

1. Outright copying

Example: Submitting another student's work as your own.
Example: Submitting a paper downloaded from an internet site.

2. Errors in Quoting

Using a person's written or spoken words without setting them off in quotation marks and properly acknowledging the source in a footnote or endnote.

Example:

That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Incorrect!---No quotation marks or acknowledgement

"That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet." (Shakespeare)
Correct!---Quotation marks surround the phrase and an endnote shows the author.

(The bibliography will then have the full citation to the source, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.)

3. Errors in Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing another's words or ideas without properly acknowledging the source in a footnote or endnote.

Example:

Original source (Citiation is shown in APA style.):

"The results suggest that other high-risk behaviors, such as using marijuana, drinking heavily, and having multiple sex partners, are the strongest correlates of smoking status among this population. Other characteristics of a hedonistic lifestyle were also predictive, such as endorsement of parties as important and participation in leisure activities."

Emmons, W.D., Wechsler, H., Dowdall, G., & Abraham, M. (1998). Predictors of smoking among US college students. American Journal Of Public Health, 88 (1), 104-107. Retrieved December 8, 2003, from EBSCOhost database (Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition) .

Plagiarized paraphrase:

Studies indicate that there is a correlation between smoking in college students and engaging in other high-risk behaviors. For example, students who smoked were more likely to drink, party, and have many sexual partners.
Incorrect!--- Although the text in the paraphrase is valid, there is no source acknowledgement.

Valid paraphrase:

The findings of Emmons, Wechsler, Dowdall, and Abraham (1998) indicate that there is a correlation between smoking in college students and engaging in other high-risk behaviors. For example, students who smoked were more likely to drink, party, and have many sexual partners.
Correct!---The bibliography must then have the full citation to the source as shown above.