4.1.6: Manage
- Page ID
- 328981
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Manage information within written texts honestly and appropriately.
As a scholar and researcher, maintaining academic integrity is important. A poorly documented paper suggests to readers that you are not trustworthy. It also signals that you care little about your reader or your reputation as a writer. Ethically, it is problematic because you are being negligent with other people's intellectual property. An honest researcher always pays attention to detail when documenting their work.
Documentation.
Documentation is an accepted method (MLA or APA) of explaining where and from whom you got information imbedded into your research paper. You must always tell your reader where you get the information in your writing, whether it is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized. When someone puts information online, they own that information. It is their intellectual property. If you do not document your sources, you are stealing their words and making them seem like yours. This is plagiarizing.
Think of this way. What if your favorite musical artist came up with a fantastic melody. Then some other artist used the same melody without permission. They would be in trouble, right? This might lead to a lawsuit and a lot of bad press. Your favorite artist wrote the music, so they should get to use it and say who uses it.
It’s the same with writers. When they publish something, the writer obtains a copyright, which gives them the sole right of use.
Usually, when you want to use intellectual property, you need to get permission. Sometimes, online influencers get into trouble because they post copyrighted work without permission. However, there are instances when you can use intellectual property under Fair Use Laws. Instructors or academics may use others' work if they give credit to the owner, and if they don't make a profit.
The Copyright Act, section 107, describes these exceptions: “The fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright” (Copyright.gov). Nevertheless, even with Fair Use, you must disclose where you got the material.
Being an honest researcher means people will trust your work is original and documented accurately. It makes your work credible and shows you have integrity.
Avoiding plagiarism
Plagiarism occurs when someone passes off another’s ideas, organization, or words as their own. It does not matter if it is done intentionally or not; it is still plagiarism. Buying, borrowing, or taking written work from someone is also plagiarism.
Other forms of plagiarism include:
- Overuse of AI.
- Using part or all of a paper from a different class.
- Reusing your own paper.
- Using questionable research methods.
- Not citing a source.
- Not documenting a source correctly either in parenthetical citations or bibliographies.
Consequences of plagiarism vary from having to rewrite your paper to expulsion from school. It depends on your school’s Student Conduct codes. You should locate and read your school's guidelines to be sure you don’t accidentally plagiarize.
To avoid plagiarism, pay close attention to details while taking notes and adding that information to your work. Embed quotations and acceptable paraphrases carefully. Accurately add the citations, and format your bibliography. Ask questions if you are not sure how to do these.
Reasons Why Documentation is Necessary
- You do not plagiarize because you acknowledge information from sources.
- You participate in the academic conversation of your topic.
- You show that your work is trustworthy.
- You demonstrate ethical research practices.
- Your reader can find your source for their research.
- You show that you’ve used solid evidence to support your ideas.
What Needs to be Cited
You need to cite anything you didn’t know before starting research. This includes:
Paraphrases
Summaries
Tables, graphs, charts, or outlines
Any infographic
You don’t need to cite common knowledge, anything you knew beforehand, or your opinion on the topic. When in doubt, cite it just to be sure.
How to Document
Each academic discipline has its own way of documenting sources. The Humanities prefer guidelines from the Modern Language Association (MLA) while the sciences prefer those from the American Psychological Association (APA).
The Humanities primarily study languages, ideas, and cultures. These academics often build on others' ideas. Researchers in the Humanities need to find the information used in a document. That is why MLA uses page number in its citations. This way, they can find and use what was presented and cited.
On the other hand, the sciences, such as psychology, sociology, education, linguistics, and medicine, need to keep current, so they use years in their citations. Since scientific innovations and discoveries are always happening, so researchers want the most recent information available. People in these disciplines need to know when information is published to ensure currency.
Both systems have their own guidelines, but work similarly. They have three main sections:
Paper format: The paper, itself, is organized in a specific way. Each system has its own preferences for margins, font type, or headings. For example, APA generally uses a cover page and MLA doesn’t.
Citations: Within the text are parenthetical, often called in-text, citations that reveal the provider of the information. Along with the provider, MLA uses a page number while APA uses the year. Both use a signal phrase to introduce direct quotations and citations written within the text and set off with parenthesis.
Both have a bibliography that lists the sources used in the paper. MLA calls it a works cited page while APA has a references page.
We will use the Online Writing Center at Perdue University for the specific guidelines for each section.
APA – American Psychological Association
General information: APA overview
Paper format: APA General Format
Citations: APA in-text citations
References page: Basic rules Examples on following pages.
Sample paper: Example APA paper
Presentation: APA slides
Videos: APA video playlist
MLA – Modern Language Association
General guidelines: MLA Overview
Paper format: General Format
Citations: In text citations Examples on following pages.
Works Cited page: Works Cited page Examples on following pages.
Sample paper: MLA paper example
Presentation: MLA power point
Videos: MLA playlist
It is likely that your library has more information on both APA and MLA citation. If your school has a writing center, the tutors there are usually equipped to help you with any part of the documentation process. Do not be afraid to reach out to these resources if you need help.
Works Cited
"APA Style Workshop." Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University, perdue.edu,
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_overview_and_workshop.html
"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University, perdue.edu,
“Intellectual property.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
“Plagiarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarize
U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Index. US Copyright Office. copyright.gov, https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/.
"What is Common Knowledge?" Academic Integrity at MIT: A Handbook for Students. MIT.edu, https://integrity.mit.edu/handbook/citing-