Zotero is a free online tool available for you to collect, organize, and manage citation information for your research sources. Zotero is available through a web browser, or you can download an app for your iPad. Please note that the app does not have the full functionality of the web application.
If you have never used Zotero before, you will need to create a free account.
Quotations are direct, word-for-word thoughts or ideas taken directly from another source. You must cite all quotations and enclose them in quotation marks. The format the citation will take depends on the citation style you are using, but most styles require a page or paragraph number indicating where the quote can be found.
Paraphrases are restatements of someone else's work using your own words. A paraphrase will include the details and meaning of the original source, but should not mirror the it in sentence structure or wording. Copy and pasting a text and then changing a few words is not paraphrasing. You must cite the original source when paraphrasing.
A summary is a broad overview in which you use your own words to address the main ideas of a source. Compared to paraphrasing, summaries do not include the same level of detail. Summaries must be cited in your text.
One of the most important responsibilities we have as information users is to properly attribute the ideas and intellectual property of others. This means that we must properly cite any references to another individual's work, whether it be a visual image, written text, or spoken word.
The citation style you use will depend on the academic discipline. Three of the most common citation styles are APA, MLA, and Chicago style. The basics of each of these styles are explained in the subpages listed below.
Plagiarism is a serious issue, both in the academic world and beyond. Please see the Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Catalog "Academic Conduct Policy" for more information on CMU's definition of plagiarism.
DO cite as you write: Instead of creating your reference list after you finish your paper, cite your sources and add them to your paper as you write and research. Keep a running reference sheet that way you do not unintentionally forget to reference a source.
DON'T take word-for-word notes: Summarize what you have read in your own words. If you include a quote in your notes, immediately place it in quotations and indicate the page or paragraph you retrieved the quote from. DON'T use copy and paste: Do not copy and paste a section of text and then modify the author's words using synonyms. DON'T reuse old assignments: Do not resubmit assignments from previous classes or copy parts of old assignments. This is called self-plagiarism and is just as serious of an issue as other forms of plagiarism. You must cite your past work with a reference, just like you would other forms of sources.See Purdue OWL's Best Practices to Avoid Plagiarism for more tips and suggestions.
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