Plagiarism and How to Avoid It:

Resources for Citing and Referencing in APA Format 

 
 

The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary Definition of Plagiarize: 

"Main Entry: pla·gia·rize 
Pronunciation: 'plA-j&-"rIz also -jE-&-
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -rized; -riz·ing
Etymology: plagiary
transitive senses : to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source
intransitive senses : to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source
- pla·gia·riz·er noun" (Merriam-Webster, 2004)

Reference

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2004)

 
Plagiarism in Dr. Wimberley's Classes: Plagiarism is not tolerated in any class taught at Florida Gulf Coast University, and is particularly intolerable in any of Dr. Wimberley's classes. Plagiarism in a class taught by Dr. Wimberley will result in a failing grade for the course at the point where the plagiarism occurs. Plagiarism is easier than ever in today's internet environment. Although widely practiced, it continues to be considered academically dishonest. This web site, and the links found herein are designed to assist the student in avoiding plagiarism. All students are encouraged to review this site completely and to learn how to effectively use APA citations and references in all of their written work. Remember, if you are caught plagiarizing an assignment, there is no acceptable excuse. All college students are expected to know how to cite and reference research material. Poor writing skills and ignorance are insufficient excuses for plagiarizing - which is cheating. Please don't use someone else's words as your own! You have been warned. Terry Wimberley, Ph.D. Professor, Ecological Studies  

Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It

APA Citation & Reference Style

A Guide for Writing Research Papers Based on Styles Recommended by The American Psychological Association
STUDENTS' QUESTIONS ABOUT REFERENCES

In APA style, the sources in a paper are listed alphabetically on a separate page headed References. It follows the final page of the text and is numbered. Entries appear in alphabetical order according to the last name of the author; two or more works by the same author appear in chronological order by date of publication date. When there are two or more books or articles by the same author, repeat the name of the author in each entry. When using the examples hyperlinked below, it is important to follow the suggested pattern closely, even to the spacing of periods, commas, etc. 
  1. What does a reference look like for a Single Author Book?  
  2. What about a book written by More than One Author?
  3. What if I'm Not Using a First Edition?  
  4. How do I list an Edited Volume? 
  5. What happens if my book has No Author or Editor listed? 
  6. I have a Multiple Volume Work here. How do I list that?
  7. What if I'm using a quote that I discover in a Secondary Source? 
  8. I've used some important definitions from a reputable Dictionary. How should I cite that?
  9. I've found some good information in a Doctoral Dissertation. How would create a reference for that?
  10. What's the proper format for a Magazine or Periodical? 
  11. I've used an article published in a prestigious Scholarly Journal.  How would I cite that?
  12. How would I handle a Newspaper Article? 
  13. Can you give me some examples of how to handle Non-Print Materials?  
  14. I have important, reliable information from Personal Interviews and Phone Conversations.  How do I document those resources? 
  15. My professor just gave us some great information in a Classroom Lecture. Can I use that? 
  16. I have several documents from the Government and ERIC to list. What's the proper format? 
  17. I have discovered several resources using the Internet and CD-ROM Resources.  How do I document that material? [NOTE: For this class never list the date as n.d. If there is not a date of publication or date of posting, use the current year.]
  18. I've been asked to create an Annotated Bibliography.  How do I go about that? 
STUDENTS' QUESTIONS ABOUT PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS
Your reader should be able to discover — without undue fuss — the source of any language or ideas you have used in writing your paper that are not your own. This is an important part of being a responsible member of the academic community. When you use the ideas or language of someone else, you can refer your reader easily to that resource by using a documentation technique called parenthetical citation. In parentheses, at the end of the quoted language or borrowed idea, key words and page numbers can refer your reader to your page of References, where he or she can then find out whatever bibliographic information is necessary to track down that resource.
  1. I've heard I can avoid using footnotes and endnotes with something called Parenthetical Citation. How does that work?