Avoiding Plagiarism

This page covers how to recognize and avoid plagiarism. Avoiding plagiarism involves properly quoting, summarizing, paraphrasing, and citing. (Because this LibGuide is designed for classes in the subject area of English, it uses MLA style.)

Further down this page, find links to online writing labs (OWLs), information on how to get HCC's free tutoring in person or online, and embedded videos.

Chapter on Plagiarism

Chapter 20: Plagiarism
from our textbook, Composition and Grammar for HCC by HCC

Avoiding Plagiarism: Online Resources

Understanding Plagiarism with Some Help from Dr. Seuss
This site from the University of Hawai'i, Maui College, presents slides (in PDF format) that show what does and does not constitute plagiarism with fun, familiar examples.
Avoiding Plagiarism: Excelsior College
An interactive tutorial with everything needed to avoid plagiarism
MLA Style, Quotations, & Plagiarism: St. Louis Comm. College
Handouts on citing in MLA style, avoiding plagiarism, and using quotations
Plagiarism: Ohio State University at Lima
Slide show (in the form of a PDF) explaining plagiarism and how to avoid it with examples and questions
Plagiarism: Purdue OWL
FAQs, videos, an exercise, and explanation about plagiarism
Plagiarism Prevention Resource Kit: Walden U.
A helpful checklist with explanatory links and a short video
Quoting, Plagiarism, & How/Why We Cite: UNC at Chapel Hill
Links to explain quoting and plagiarism, plus videos on citing
Research/Using Sources: Aims Community College
How to use sources, why to cite, and a very helpful infographic
Tutorials from the University of Arizona Libraries
Various tutorials, including "How Do I Give Credit to the Ideas of Others?" Check out the link to step-by-step tutorials, too!

MLA (Modern Language Association) Handbook

MLA Handbook (9th Edition) by The Modern Language Association of America
Call Number: LB2369 .M52 2021
Publication Date: 2021
Available for circulation (check-out), on reserve, or in reference. See locations for availability by-campus.

Read chapter 1, "Formatting Your Research Project," and chapter 4.2-4.11, "Avoiding Plagiarism," for free here. Find FAQs at style.mla.org.

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Avoiding Plagiarism: Videos

Films on Demand: "Plagiarism 2.0: Information Ethics in the Digital Age"
The following video is from the Films on Demand database. If you are asked for a login, use your NetID. If the embedded video doesn't work, try the link above.
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For a generation raised on the ideology of “open source” and the ability to quickly cut and paste, the concept of plagiarism may seem foreign or passé. And that, of course, can lead to trouble. This video examines the behaviors that constitute plagiarism, their consequences, and the best ways to avoid them. Showing how accidental copying as well as willful plagiarism can occur, the program lays out the dangers of cheating, then illustrates the pitfalls of nonattribution and patch writing while showing how to properly attribute and paraphrase a lengthy quotation. Copyright, trademark, and intellectual property concepts are clearly discussed, in addition to potential sources of noncopyrighted material. Common citation formats (APA, MLA, Bluebook, etc.) are listed along with the suggestion that the student confer with his or her instructor about them. Part of the series Internet Research and Information Literacy: Effective Strategies and Cautionary Tales. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (19 minutes)

Bainbridge State College: "Plagiarism--How to Avoid It"
The short video below gives an easy-to-understand overview of what plagiarism is and how to use sources without plagiarizing.

Southeastern University: "How to Avoid Plagiarism in Five Easy Steps"
The short video below explains what plagiarism is and provides a five-step method to avoid it.

University of Maryland, Baltimore: "Avoiding Plagiarism"
The ten-minute video below goes into great detail and provides examples (in APA style) on how to use sources without plagiarizing.

"A Writing Process for Avoiding Plagiarism" from Walden U.

Is this real-life plagiarism? You be the judge
The cohosts of ABC's The View talk show discuss accusations of plagiarism against Melania Trump after her 2016 Republican National Convention speech. Do you want your readers to have this attitude about what you write?

ENC 1102 - Niedbalec: Avoiding Plagiarism