Most students don't intentionally plagiarize. Understanding proper citation prevents accidental violations.
Direct Quotation
Use quotation marks and cite the source:
"According to Smith (2023), 'AI is transforming education' (p. 42)."
Paraphrasing
Rewrite in your own words AND cite:
"Smith argues that education is undergoing significant AI-driven transformation."
(Smith, 2023)
Summarizing
Condense main ideas AND cite:
"Recent research suggests AI will reshape how students learn."
(Smith, 2023)
Common Knowledge Exception
You don't need to cite facts everyone knows:
But when unsure, cite anyway. It's always safer.
Citation Managers
Tools that make citation easy:
The Rule
When in doubt, cite. Your professor would rather see too many citations than too few.