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Slide 1

When writing papers in college, it's important to give credit to the sources where you got your information. As a general rule, if you used a source to inform your thoughts on a topic, you should cite that source in your paper and on your works cited page.

This module will teach you about

  • why we cite sources,
  • when you should cite your sources,
  • the dangers and consequences of plagiarism,

and

  • how to format citations in APA style.

Using Information Ethically

Quick check

Why do we cite our sources? Select all that apply.

Why do teachers always tell you to cite your sources?

We cite our sources for 3 main reasons.

  1. To credit the ideas of others
    It's important to give credit when you're using other people's ideas. Pretending other people's ideas are your own original thoughts is called plagiarism, and it can have severe academic consquences.
  2. To help readers find our sources
    Readers might want to find more information about the topic you're writing about. By citing your sources, you can lead them to credible relevant sources of further information.
  3. To support our conclusions
    You're probably not an expert on your topic yet, but by citing the ideas and thoughts of people who are, you give more credibility to your own conclusions.
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Why we cite

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