Write your paper and properly document all of your information sources

The actual mechanics of writing and revising your research paper are beyond the scope of the Information Literacy Web Page. These topics are more properly dealt with between student and teacher. However, for assistance in questions of spelling and grammar, the following web based resources may prove helpful:

• Merriam Webster Dictionary
• Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition
• Online English Grammar
• Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr.
• Raritan Valley Community College Writing Guidelines -- prepared by members of the English Deparment--of special interest to RVCC students!

AVOID PLAGIARISM

In writing a research paper, it is necessary to document the sources of facts, ideas, quotes, paraphrases. Failure to do so is plagiarism, a serious academic offense which is the ethical equivalent of theft. Plagiarism is the theft of intellectual property and must be avoided.

Plagiarism occurs when a student:

• quotes a source word for word without stating the source
• closely paraphrases a source without stating the source
• states facts that are not common knowledge without stating the source
• states ideas that are not original without stating the source

Plagiarism is avoided by:

• using quotation marks to indicate a direct quotation
• using footnotes or parenthetical notes to indicate a source of facts or ideas
• using a bibliography or works cited page to indicate more fully the sources of facts or ideas

For further discussion including examples of plagiarism consult:

• Plagiarism: What It Is and How to Avoid It
• Avoiding Plagiarism

DOCUMENT YOUR SOURCES

Several published guides exist to help you document your sources through proper use of footnotes, parenthetical notes, and biblography or works cited pages.

Subject Area	Appropriate Guide to Documentation	Call Number
Humanities	MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers	Ref LB 2369 .G53 1995
Social Sciences	Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA)	Ref BF 76.7 .P82 1994

Several guides to footnotes and bibliography can be found online:

• The RVCC Library has a guide to:
• MLA Format
• APA Format

Back to Introduction

Raritan Valley Community College / Evelyn S. Field Library

Go To

Introduction

Decide on Your Topic

Locate Basic Information

Think about Your Topic

Locate Detailed Information

Locate Current Information

Locate General Web Information

Evaluate Your Information

Document Your Sources

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