Plagiarism

Plagiarism is about more than just taking someone's unique writing style or not using quotation marks around a direct quote.  Plagiarism also means using someone else's original ideas without giving them credit. If you did not think of the idea, then you need to cite it.  It sounds simple in principle but it can sometimes be difficult to remember what you learned from other sources and what ideas are your own.

A citation provides a record of the source you used so that others can view it, too.  Citations not only give due credit to the original author's ideas but allow your readers the option to track down the original source for their own use. It is easy to lose track of sources when writing your paper so make sure you pay attention and record what information you took from each source. Check out the Citation Guide tab for more helpful hints.

A fact that is considered common knowledge does not have to be cited.  Facts are not original ideas.

Examples:

• Abraham Lincoln died on April 15, 1865.
• Planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
• The Pope lives in Vatican City.

How do I know if something is common knowledge?

Generally, something is considered general knowledge if it is known amongst a wide variety of people and can be found in a general reference resource, such as an encyclopedia, almanac or dictionary. If you aren't sure, it is better to play it safe and provide a citation.