Using sources appropriately when writing in an academic setting, such as for a class assignment, is necessary in order to communicate clearly and avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism can take numerous forms. The goal of this guide is not to instill fear but to help you develop a set of tools so you can avoid making common mistakes that can diminish the effect of your writing and potentially your grade.
Properly citing sources is important to the process of research as it clearly shows how you arrived at your conclusions. Properly using sources is very similar to showing your work when doing math problems. It allows the reader to see the steps and trace the development of thinking and argumentation made in your paper.
This guide gathers together resources that are meant to help you develop good citation methods and appropriate source usage.