Plagiarism is using someone else’s works or ideas and presenting them as your own.
Plagiarizing is unethical because it disrespects the time and effort creators put into their work. It’s like stealing, but even worse it affects future research.
You may think this is no big deal, but put yourself in their shoes. Think of how long you spend writing a paper or creating a work of art. How would you feel if someone copied your text or picture without giving you credit or compensation? What would you do if you used a plagiarized source unknowingly and missed important information?
Look at these common examples—all of which are also plagiarism:
giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
Plagiarism affects all sources. Images, videos, music, and other media types can all be plagiarized. Again, look at these common examples:
copying media (especially images) from other websites to paste them into your own papers or websites
making a video using footage from others’ videos or using copyrighted music as part of the soundtrack
performing another person’s copyrighted music (i.e., playing a cover)
composing a piece of music that borrows heavily from another composition
*(Bulleted examples from Plagiarism.org)
| The Southeastern Louisiana University General Catalogue and the Student Handbook provide information about the various sanctions which can be taken against a student who is found to have plagiarized. Instructors at Southeastern can require that student papers be submitted to VeriCite to detection of plagiarism. |
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If you need further help with avoiding plagiarism and using citations, you can seek help at Southeastern Writing Center. Southeastern Writing Center Appointments can be made by calling the Writing Center or by email at writing@southeastern.edu |
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To avoid plagiarism, you need to provide a citation about the source you reference; you use citations any time you quote, paraphrase or summarize another’s work. In addition to helping avoid plagiarism, citations help build your credibility because people can trace the development of information and locate the original source you’ve referenced.
Different academic disciplines use different styles for citation, so you may use many while at Southeastern. The following chart can help you locate which citation style matches your major at Southeastern.
| Discipline | Citation Style |
|---|---|
| Biology | Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers, 8th edition |
| Chemistry | The ACS Style Guide, 3rd edition |
| English, Foreign Language | MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th or 8th Edition |
| Education, Nursing, Social Sciences |
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition
APA Style Guide to Electronic References
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| History |
Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition
or
Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8th edition
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| Sociology | The ASA Style Guide, 4th edition |
Sims Library has prepared a guide for Citing Sources to help students prepare reference lists. It also includes resources on how to avoid plagiarism.
We also recommend the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) for examples of APA, MLA and Chicago Manual citations.
The Chicago Manual of Style by 
A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations by 
MLA Handbook by
Relied on by generations of writers, the MLA Handbook is published by the Modern Language Association and is the only official, authorized book on MLA style. The new, ninth edition builds on the MLA's unique approach to documenting sources using a template of core elements--facts, common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date--that allows writers to cite any type of work, from books, e-books, and journal articles in databases to song lyrics, online images, social media posts, dissertations, and more. With this focus on source evaluation as the cornerstone of citation, MLA style promotes the skills of information and digital literacy so crucial today. The many new and updated chapters make this edition the comprehensive, go-to resource for writers of research papers, and anyone citing sources, from business writers, technical writers, and freelance writers and editors to student writers and the teachers and librarians working with them. Intended for a variety of classroom contexts--middle school, high school, and college courses in composition, communication, literature, language arts, film, media studies, digital humanities, and related fields--the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook offers *New chapters on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, numbers, italics, abbreviations, and principles of inclusive language *Guidelines on setting up research papers in MLA format with updated advice on headings, lists, and title pages for group project *Revised, comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for creating a list of works cited in MLA format that are easier to learn and use than ever before *A new appendix with hundreds of example works-cited-list entries by publication format, including websites, YouTube videos, interviews, and more *Detailed examples of how to find publication information for a variety of sources *Newly revised explanations of in-text citations, including comprehensive advice on how to cite multiple authors of a single work *Detailed guidance on footnotes and endnotes *Instructions on quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, and avoiding plagiarism *A sample essay in MLA format *Annotated bibliography examples *Numbered sections throughout for quick navigation *Advanced tips for professional writers and scholars
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition is the official source for APA Style. With millions of copies sold worldwide in multiple languages, it is the style manual of choice for writers, researchers, editors, students, and educators in the social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, nursing, communications, education, business, engineering, and other fields. Known for its authoritative, easy-to-use reference and citation system, the Publication Manual also offers guidance on choosing the headings, tables, figures, language, and tone that will result in powerful, concise, and elegant scholarly communication. It guides users through the scholarly writing process--from the ethics of authorship to reporting research through publication. The seventh edition is an indispensable resource for students and professionals to achieve excellence in writing and make an impact with their work. The seventh edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect best practices in scholarly writing and publishing. All formats are in full color, with a new tabbed spiral version Improved ease of navigation, with many additional numbered sections to help users quickly locate answers to their questions Resources for students on writing and formatting annotated bibliographies, response papers, and other paper types as well as guidelines on citing course materials Dedicated chapter for new users of APA Style covering paper elements and format, including sample papers for both professional authors and student writers New chapter on journal article reporting standards that includes updates to reporting standards for quantitative research and the first-ever qualitative and mixed methods reporting standards in APA Style New chapter on bias-free language guidelines for writing about people with respect and inclusivity in areas including age, disability, gender, participation in research, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality More than 100 new reference examples covering periodicals, books, audiovisual media, social media, webpages and websites, and legal resources More than 40 new sample tables and figures Expanded guidance on ethical writing and publishing practices, including how to ensure the appropriate level of citation, avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism, and navigate the publication process Guidelines that support accessibility for all users, including simplified reference, in-text citation, and heading formats as well as additional font options