The one of the most important things to keep in mind when writing a research paper is to AVOID PLAGIARISM! Plagiarism can be DELIBERATE or UNINTENTIONAL so be careful how you use the the resources you have gathered during the research process.
Take OWNERSHIP of your research project and consider it an opportunity to learn and grow academically or otherwise. Research a topic you are interested in or are passionate about! Doing research CAN be rewarding!
Any time you use a quote, summarize, paraphrase or in any way refer to works created by other authors, you must provide an appropriate citation within your research paper as well as a separate comprehensive Reference (APA) or Works Cited (MLA) page listing all sources used in your work.
There are different citation styles or formats used by authors for their research, such as MLA (Modern Language Association) or APA (American Psychological Association).
Although MLA format is typically within most diciplines within the liberal arts, always consult your syllabus or ask your instructor to find out which format you need to use to cite your sources.
This guide will provide you with some library resources as well as online websites to help you cite it right!
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica Online, "plagiarism is the act of taking the writings of another person and passing them off as one's own. The fraudulence is closely related to forgery and piracy—practices generally in violation of copyright laws."
It is considered plagiarism when you use another author's work and do not provide a citation or give credit otherwise!
Below is a list of reference books located within the MCTC Libraries to help you properly cite your resources.
MLA Handbook by 
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by 
Doing Honest Work in College by 
Writing the Research Paper by Plagiarism can be DELIBERATE or UNINTENTIONAL. Whenever you borrow words or ideas, you MUST acknowledge their source to give the author/creator credit and to respect their intellectual property!
The following situations almost always require citation:
--excerpt from Plagiarism.org
For more help understanding plagiarism and citation for research papers, consult the library's Citation Guide.
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