Research Matters: Overcoming Fear of Plagiarizing

Research Matters

Overview of Overcoming Fear of Plagiarizing

  • Importance of Writing Responsibly: Emphasis on the ethical considerations in writing, highlighting the crucial role of proper citation and originality.
  • Tools for Avoiding Plagiarism:
    • Paraphrasing: Restating information in your own words while maintaining the original meaning.
    • Summarizing: Condensing a larger text into a brief overview, highlighting key points without detailed descriptions.
    • Note-Taking: Effective techniques for gathering information while differentiating between original thoughts and sources.

Using Illustrations and Avoiding Plagiarism

  • Media Resources Availability: The web offers a large selection of images, videos, and sound files available for download.
    • Caution Against Misuse: Simply downloading media does not equate to ownership or right of use without proper attribution.
  • Record Keeping: It is essential to document the following details to ensure proper citation:
    • Creator's Name: Who created the media content.
    • Source: Where the media was found.
    • Download Date: The date when the media was downloaded.

Citing Media Illustrations

  • Reference citation styles mentioned include:
    • MLA: Pages 354, 378–80
    • APA: Pages 427–29
    • Chicago: Page 462

When Citing is Not Necessary

Common Knowledge
  • Definition: Information that is widely known and accepted as factual across multiple sources, eliminating the requirement for citation.
Examples of Common Knowledge:

  1. Facts:

    • Average distance of the Earth from the sun: 93 million miles.
    • Labor organizer “Mother” Jones worked for the United Mine Workers of America.

  2. Dates:

    • The spring equinox occurred on March 19, 2024.
    • The Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was passed on August 26, 1920.

  3. Events:

    • James Earl Ray was convicted for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr..
    • Francis Crick, James Watson, and Maurice Wilkins are noted for discovering the structure of DNA.

  4. Cultural Knowledge:

    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was recognized as a child prodigy.
    • Elvis Presley popularized the song “Hound Dog”, although he did not write it.

Citation Requirements

  • General guideline: Information not fitting the categories of common knowledge should be cited within the text and documented accordingly.
  • Documentation styles will determine the format for including sources, such as:
    • Works Cited
    • References List
    • Footnotes
    • Bibliography