Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
When
an academic author puts pen to paper or clicks his or her keyboard, the author
is using the written word to enter a conversation about a topic. The
author may agree with what others have already written, disagree, or even offer
a new or unique opinion or interpretation of the evidence. In any
event, it is of vital importance to let one's readers know who said what or held
a certain point of view so the reader may go to find out more info. That
is where footnotes, endnotes, bibliographies and the like come into play.
Different scholarly fields and different professional academic societies have
developed standard ways that the members in their field or group render
citations, or give credit to others. Many of these have been published as
"style guides." One style guide may recommend footnotes, another in-text
citations, and still another end notes. But, the result is the same.
The reader can see with what other scholars or experts the author of a paper or
book is in dialogue.
Style Manuals & Guides
The
following list includes links to the full online version of the Chicago Manual
of Style and several brief summary charts of a few other popular style guides
that were produced by Northwestern University. The full paper versions of
these guides and many more are, of course, held in the stacks. Please ask
a librarian if you require assistance.
- Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed. (NetID required) Full version
- Chicago Manual of Style Brief Summary with Examples in Chart
- Turabian Style Brief Summary with Examples in Chart
- APA Style Brief Summary with Examples in Chart
- MLA Style Brief Summary with Examples in Chart
Plagiarism and Academic Honesty
With regard to academic writing in many Western countries, the person who writes an book, composes a song, or creates a piece of art owns the item and its words or musical notation. Thus he or she may determine who may copy or reproduce it. This is called copyright. To remind folk about copyright, the symbol "©" his often added to works. But the author, artist, or songwriter is permitted to take legal action against those who reproduce the work even if the little symbol isn't present.
In the academic world using another person's work without giving credit or copying more than 10% of an entire work, or passing off another person's ideas are one's own is considered unethical behavior. To be blunt, it is a form not of flattery as in some cultures or even in some points in Western history, but of theft and a very serious matter.
Please always use proper citation (give credit) when you:
- Cut and paste from a source or use a direct sentence from a source.
- Paraphrase (rewrite or summarize another's words or thoughts)
- Use a graphic, chart or image that you did not create from scratch.
- Are referring to or discussing another author's work or ideas even if you do not quote directly or paraphrase.
Other ethical considerations:
At all times also completely avoid the following behaviors as they are dishonest.
- Copying from another classmate's paper or exam
- Copying or purchasing a full paper, essay, play etc and submitting it as if you had written it.
- Making copy machine copies of entire library books or textbooks since this violates copyright.
- Hiding, intentionally mis-shelving, or stealing library materials to keep others from having access to the materials.
- Keeping library materials past their deadlines to prevent others from checking them out.
If you have questions about academic honesty, please ask the library staff for assistance.
Seek to be honest and ethical in how you represent ideas, words and images!