Statement of Documenting Resources and Avoiding Plagiarism

Adopted October 10, 1991

Documenting Sources

Research papers, sufficiency projects, and other writing that incorporates information or ideas from sources must include suitable documentation of the sources.

You must provide documentation:

When quoting directly from a source, that is, copying the words of another
When paraphrasing ideas or information from a source, that is, rewriting a passage in your own words
When incorporating into your paper information or ideas that are not general knowledge

The documentation may take one of the following forms:

Parenthetical citations in your text following the borrowed passages, plus at the end of your paper a list of works cited
Footnotes or endnotes, that is raised numbers following the borrowed passages in your text, plus citations either at the bottom of your pages or at the end of your paper

By documenting your sources:

You demonstrate to your reader how your own ideas stem from, differ from, or relate to those in your sources
You support your ideas by showing that authorities in the field have held similar ideas
You assist your reader, who may want to look further into the sources that you found helpful
You share intellectual activity honesty and properly

Check with your professor or project advisor about which form of documentation is appropriate to your field and topic, and about books that give specific instructions about documentation.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is using the words, information, or ideas of another without properly documenting them. Students will avoid plagiarism by learning to use and document sources correctly. The Academic Honesty Policy clearly specifies that plagiarism, the misrepresentation of the work of another as your own, is an act of academic dishonesty. It is also academically dishonest to allow another person to copy your work and present it as his or her own work. Cases of deliberate plagiarism can result in loss of credit for the assignment or for the course or project during which plagiarism is committed. A serious act of plagiarism can result in the student's suspension from WPI.

The foregoing statements of the Department are in fundamental agreement with WPI policy, as stated in the WPI Judicial Policies.

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Last modified: January 24, 2007 17:42:53