Important Terms

Attribution

The acknowledgement that something came from another source. The following sentence properly attributes an idea to its original author:

Jack Bauer, in his article "Twenty-Four Reasons not to Plagiarize," maintains that cases of plagiarists being expelled by academic institutions have risen dramatically in recent years due to an increasing awareness on the part of educators.

Bibliography

A list of sources used in preparing a work

Citation

A short, formal indication of the source of information or quoted material.

The act of quoting material or the material quoted.

See our section on How to Cite Sources Properly for more information.

Cite

to indicate a source of information or quoted material in a short, formal note.

to quote

to ascribe something to a source.

See our section on How to Cite Sources Properly for more information.

Common Knowledge

Information that is readily available from a number of sources, or so well-known that its sources do not have to be cited.

The fact that carrots are a source of Vitamin A is common knowledge, and you could include this information in your work without attributing it to a source. However, any information regarding the effects of Vitamin A on the human body are likely to be the products of original research and would have to be cited.

Copyright

A law protecting the intellectual property of individuals, giving them exclusive rights over the distribution and reproduction of that material.

Endnotes

Notes at the end of a paper acknowledging sources and providing additional references or information.

Facts

Knowledge or information based on real, observable occurrences.

Just because something is a fact does not mean it is not the result of original thought, analysis, or research. Facts can be considered intellectual property as well. If you discover a fact that is not widely known nor readily found in several other places, you should cite the source.

Fair Use

The guidelines for deciding whether the use of a source is permissible or constitutes a copyright infringement.

See our section What is Fair Use? for more information.

Footnotes

Notes at the bottom of a paper acknowledging sources or providing additional references or information.

Intellectual Property

A product of the intellect, such as an expressed idea or concept, that has commercial value.

Original

Not derived from anything else, new and unique

Markedly departing from previous practice

The first, preceding all others in time

4)The source from which copies are made

Paraphrase

A restatement of a text or passage in other words.

It is extremely important to note that changing a few words from an original source does NOT qualify as paraphrasing. A paraphrase must make significant changes in the style and voice of the original while retaining the essential ideas. If you change the ideas, then you are not paraphrasing -- you are misrepresenting the ideas of the original, which could lead to serious trouble.

Peer Review

Turnitin's teaching tool that allows students to anonymously review the work of their peers. This gives students a chance to build critical skills while helping them to see the strengths and weaknesses of their own writing.

Plagiarism

The reproduction or appropriation of someone else's work without proper attribution; passing off as one's own the work of someone else

Public Domain

The absence of copyright protection; belonging to the public so that anyone may copy or borrow from it. For more information, see our section on What is public domain?

Quotation

Using words from another source.

Self-plagiarism

Copying material you have previously produced and passing it off as a new production.

This can potentially violate copyright protection, if the work has been published, and is banned by most academic policies.