August 17, 2016

Don't get caught plagiarizing, learn proper citation at Purdue University's Online Writing Lab

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Back to school is in full swing and that means book reports, research papers, final papers and Googling, "How to cite sources."

Whether it is a college research paper or a 10th-grade book report, citation is key to making good grades and avoiding the costly consequences of plagiarism.

This is where Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) comes to the rescue. The lab is a free, online resource filled with examples of how to use citation and manage sources, which is one of the biggest issues writers face, said Daniel Kenzie, OWL content coordinator.

"It's very difficult to write from sources. First, you have to find sources and evaluate whether they're useful and reputable. Then, you have to read them and figure out what they mean as a group while keeping track of what information you got and from where," he said. "Finally, you have to build them into an argument and put a lot of ideas into your own words without just swapping out individual words."

Kenzie said even advanced writers can struggle with this. Luckily, the OWL has a revamped section on the Modern Language Association format, which is widely taught at the high school and college levels.

The update presents a flexible process for citing any source rather than separate rules for every source type, he said.

Students and parents also can find information on the American Psychological Association format, general writing, subject-specific writing, job search writing and English as a second language.

Writer: Megan Huckaby, 765-496-1325, mhuckaby@purdue.edu

Source: Daniel Kenzie, OWL content coordinator, dkenzie@purdue.edu

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