

When you put someone else’s thoughts and views on a topic in your own words, you’re paraphrasing. “Like soldiers in a just war, soldiers in a holy war were guiltless of the sin of murder (provided their motives were proper), but more than that, holy warriors could earn salvation by their actions.” Alfred J Andrea, Encyclopedia of the Crusades (United States: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003), 161. Paraphrasing and summarizing rather than quoting are often the norm today in the sciences and social sciences.Limit their use to times when you are willing to let another voice speak for you due to the exceptional preciseness and clarity of their language. Since quotes strongly highlight how something is stated by someone other than yourself, use them sparingly.Additionally, you must cite quoted material with either footnotes, endnotes, or in-text citations. Distinguish quoted material in your paper by using quotation marks (" ") or, for a lengthier passage, by indenting the quoted text.If you choose this option, it’s very important to use the identical words of the original writer, without leaving out such essential words as ‘not,’ since that would confuse your reader. When you borrow a piece of writing verbatim that someone else wrote you are quoting.Decide on a strategy for documenting your resources and follow this procedure throughout your research.Be sure to indicate which phrases and ideas are yours and which are the work of others.More is better, you can always discard unneeded information later. Include author(s), title, place of publication, publisher, internet source if applicable, page numbers. Take careful note of your sources during your research process.Statistics, numerical data, complete quotes or ideas are NOT common knowledge and must be cited.Information appearing in a number of reputable sources, such as dictionaries and encyclopedias.

When writing academic works know your audience what may be common knowledge for a group of scientists, may not be known by a group of poets.

George Washington was the 1st president of the United States water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit) Well known quotes, axioms, proverbs and sayings.If the information is Common Knowledge a citation is not required. When can one use information without citations? follow specific guidelines as laid out by your instructor with regard to format.Document all numbers, facts, direct quotes.Document in detail as you work this will ensure complete citations and will preclude forgetting the specific passage, page, or URL of original idea.From the USMA Documentation of Academic Work:.When in doubt, a good rule is to document any assistance in question." Every cadet scholar must properly document the sources of information and ideas received. Source material obtained from internet sources requires the same attentiveness to documentation as from all other sources. "Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's words, ideas, or work - whether accidentally or deliberately - as your own work.
