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What Is Citation?

In academic writing, authors must acknowledge their sources of information. Citations are how those acknowledgements are included in your writing. Instructors determine which style of citation is used. Although each citation style differs slightly, they provide the same basic information which helps people locate your information sources.

Avoiding Plagiarism

How can I avoid plagiarism?
To avoid plagiarism, give credit whenever you:

  • Directly quote written or spoken words. Be sure to enclose these words and/or sentences in quotations marks!
  • Paraphrase spoken or written words. Paraphrase means to re-write in your own words; merely reordering or substituting words is still considered plagiarism!
  • Use theories, ideas, opinions, research, etc. that are not your own.
  • Use historical, statistical, or scientific facts or data that are not your own.

      (Source: Adapted from "Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It" from Writing Tutorial Services at Indiana University)

Avoiding plagiarism in Computer Programs

  • Do not present the work of others as your own
  • Determine when copying code and collaborating is acceptable
  • Learn when and how to use an outside reference and document your source

(Sources: Adapted from Avoiding Plagiarism from the Oregon Institute of Technology and Plagiarism in a Programming Context from Arkansas State University)

Why do I need to cite sources?
Usually all research papers must include citations. Citations ensure that:

  • Anyone reading your paper can easily find your sources.
  • Words and ideas used from your sources are not assumed to be your own.
  • Authors and researchers are properly credited for their original work.

Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

Examples and Exercises for Understand Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Practice identifying appropriately paraphrased passages with the University of Arizona's Global Campus Writing Center Paraphrasing Activity.

Practice summarizing and paraphrasing with this introductory exercise from the Owl of Purdue, answers provided.

Write your own paraphrases and evaluate then with the OWL of Purdue paraphrasing exercise and answers.

Examples of plagiarism and Tutorials to learn more

OC Resources

AITools— ChatGPT, etc.

Your instructors determine if there are appropriate uses for AI tools in your assignments. Unauthorized use may be a violation of the Student Conduct Code. When you are permitted to use ChatGPT or other generative AI tools, be sure to properly cite your sources. 

APA- Citing AI Tools (U of GH)

MLA- How to cite AI

See our AI-Literacy Guide for more information.

Avoid Plagiarism in Coding

Collaboration, Copying, and Cheating

Olympic College's Academic Dishonesty Policy

(1) Academic dishonesty. Any act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication.

(a) Cheating includes any attempt to give or obtain unauthorized assistance relating to the completion of an academic assignment.

(b) Plagiarism includes taking and using as one's own, without proper attribution, the ideas, writings, or work of another person in completing an academic assignment. Prohibited conduct may also include the unauthorized submission for credit of academic work that has been submitted for credit in another course.

(c) Fabrication includes falsifying data, information, or citations in completing an academic assignment and also includes providing false or deceptive information to an instructor concerning the completion of an assignment.

Student Conduct Code/ Prohibited student conduct

Community Standards at OC