CEDC 743: Research Seminar in Elementary School Mathematics and Science

Why Use Citations?

Citations are a vital part of the research process. They allow the reader to locate sources used as part of your research, lend credibility to your argumentation, and demonstrate your ability to participate in a scholarly dialogue. Proper citations also give credit to the original authors of the sources or ideas you are using. Without these citations, it is impossible to avoid plagiarism.

Citation styles vary by discipline. The most commonly used citation styles in education research are APA and MLA. To be sure you are using the correct style, check with your professor.

What is Plagarism?

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means:

• to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
• to use (another's production) without crediting the source
• to commit literary theft
• to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source

Plagiarism, then, is not simply copying; it is an act of fraud, tempered with lies.

The Turnitin Plagiarism Spectrum identifies 10 types of plagiarism based on findings from a worldwide survey of nearly 900 secondary and higher education instructors, including:

• Cloning
• Excerpting
• and Remixing

Subject Librarian: Hal Grossman. Questions? Need Help? Email Me