We live in the world of information. Information is everywhere we go. It is hard to imagine that some decades ago the only source of information was a newspaper. Nowadays, you can find any fact online without even trying too hard. On one hand, it is a huge advancement in our society. On the other, the abundance of information makes our lives more difficult in many ways. For instance, students need to try very hard to create original content. It often seems that almost every idea that they come up with has already been messaged by somebody else. The issue of plagiarism, therefore, arises quite often. The most unpleasant point is that the penalties for a plagiarized paper are very frustrating. Here are some of the possible ways to avoid it in your writing.
Use an APA bibliography generator. APA is one of the most common formatting styles and you will find this option in every online tool that you choose to use. Alternatively, you can use an MLA format bibliography generator if your educational institution uses it for academic writing assignments. How does this tool help you avoid plagiarism? When you list all the sources that you’ve used in your assignment, you give credit to all the authors’ ideas that you’ve mentioned. The most challenging part is to make sure you thoroughly list all the sources. Make notes during the process of writing to avoid any mistakes. It will be easier to organize the sources afterward.
Use in-text citations. It is one of the easiest ways to use someone else’s ideas in your texts. Just copy the part of a phrase or sentence that you want to include in your writing and cite the author and the source. Pay attention to the formatting style requirements, though. When it comes to citations, there are many different ways of incorporating them. Use a guide of your educational institution or look for tips online. Also, it is important to know the specifics of citing the source of information. Sometimes you will need to mention the author, the date, the full name of the source, the year of publishing, etc. The sequence of these points is crucial as well.
Paraphrase. Direct citations are not the only way you can credit someone’s ideas. You can also use paraphrasing to build up your ideas on top of the existing ones. Your goal is to underline the significance of this specific idea and how it supports the argument you are making. This approach also helps you demonstrate how well you understand the ideas of other authors by using them to your advantage. In a way, you are going the extra mile here by showing off your analytical skills as well.
Use a variety of sources. When you need to do a thorough research study, do not limit yourself to a couple of sources. To create something undeniably outstanding, you need to dig deeper. Make a list of reputable resources that can help you make your paper informative and appealing. Make sure that these sources do not cite one another. Then, you will be able to give your teacher a wholesome understanding of the topic of your research. You will also avoid plagiarism because your article is going to consist of many different points.
Writing an essay or a research paper is always a challenge. However, there is no need in making this task harder than it is. As you can see, you can avoid facing plagiarism issues in many ways. Apply the most convenient one to your specific situation. Every other case is unique. Therefore, make the right choice to get the best possible result.
