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FYE 100/105 Library Assignment: Academic Integrity

For this assignment, you will gain a basic understanding of the services and resources provided by the MCTC Libraries. To complete the assignment, you will need to read through all the tabs/pages in this tutorial and take the library quiz on the last page

What IS citation and WHY is it important?

Citation is the format by which you identify an information source within a paper or other research assignment. There are different citation styles, or formats, such as MLA (Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association). 

Plagiarism is using someone else work without giving proper credit. Plagiarism can be DELIBERATE or UNINTENTIONAL. Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided by citing sources. 

Whenever you borrow words or ideas, you need to acknowledge their source. The following situations almost always require citation:

  • whenever you use direct quotes
  • whenever you paraphrase sentences or words.
  • whenever you use an idea that someone else has already expressed
  • whenever you make specific reference to the work of another
  • whenever someone else's work has been critical in developing your own ideas.

If you need more help citing your sources, consult the MCTC Library Citation Guide. 

As a student, you should exhibit academic integrity, following the KCTCS Student Code of Conduct. 

Academic Ethics 101

As a student, you should be familiar with the concept of "academic integrity," which means exhibiting ethical behaviors as you complete your coursework. Part of having academic integrity involves understanding how to use information appropriately and ethically -  these skills are often called "information literacy." Below are examples of ways you, as a student, can demonstrate your academic integrity and information literacy skills! These skills are also important to you in your personal life and as an employee in the workplace.

  • Use appropriate information sources for your class assignments, such as library databases, which provide content written and created by experts and people with extensive knowedge. Blogs, social media, and other content found freely online may not be trustworthy information to use for college research! 
  • Respect content creators' intellectual property by giving credit to sources you find and use for your course assignments to avoid plagiarism (see box "What IS citation and WHY is it important?).
  • Always produce your own original work! This means not copying other classmates' work, avoiding websites available for purchasing college essays or using AI (artificial intelligience) tools. 
  • Learn to think critically about information you find - ask questions and seek more knowledge! Dig deeper to gain new understanding or a new viewpoint (see box "Common traits of critical readers" below). 
  • Be respectful of different perspectives in speaking with others you interact with in your course, and in general, recognizing the value of diverse ideas and viewpoints.
  • Be cautious about the personal information you provide online, not only for your personal safety but for the safety of your online identity. 
  • Keep your personal "smart" devices and laptops/computers updated with operating system updates to protect yourself from spam or malicious programs that could be installed without your prior knowledge. 

 

Common traits of critical readers

Critical readers tend to have the following traits:

  • Exhibit self-awareness of their own thoughts and biases
  • Open-mindedness
  • Recognize arguments and avoid being easily manipulated
  • Ask questions
  • Draw evidence-based conclusions
  • Find connections between thoughts and subjects
  • Develop intellectual independence
  • Creativity