Referencing and avoiding plagiarism

Contents

1. Referencing and avoiding plagiarism
2. What is plagiarism?
   1. How to avoid plagiarism
   2. Examples of good and bad academic practice
   3. Activity 1
   4. Plagiarism of expression
3. Why you need to reference
4. What is referencing?
5. How to provide references 1
6. In-text citations (Author/date style)
7. How to provide references 2
   1. Footnotes, reference lists and bibliographies
   2. Activity 2
8. To reference or not to reference that is the question
9. Referencing: Think - Who? When? What? and Where?
10. Referencing books
    1. Referencing book chapters
    2. Activity 3
    3. Referencing eBooks
    4. eBooks: Finding the URL
    5. Activity 4
11. Referencing journal articles (print)
    1. Activity 5
12. Referencing electronic journal articles
    1. Electronic journals and Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)
    2. Activity 6
    3. Referencing online reports (Government department)
    4. Referencing the Internet (webpages)
    5. Activity 7
13. Managing your referencing: EndNote
14. Summary

Plagiarism of expression

We have seen how plagiarism can be about using not only the words of another person, but also retaining the structure of the original text. This means that you are copying the original author's expression.

To avoid doing this, try picking out the key ideas from the text, noting them down and then reconstructing the information using your own words and structure. This way you will convey the ideas using your own expression.

Example:

Below is an extract of a text by Hayes and then underneath it (in bullet points) are the key ideas drawn from the text which summarise the meaning.

Summary:

• Training in diagnostic methods and team-building needed initially
• Possibility of hostility to process
• Therefore motivational strategies needed
• All involved likely to need help adjusting

1

Try and identify the key points in this text. By the end of the 1970s, liberal economic ideas had begun to permeate thinking about domestic economic policy management. During the 1950s and 1960s, the prevailing orthodoxy was based on Keynesian economics, particularly the belief that by managing demand, governments could exercise significant control over their economies. However, the international economic troubles of the 1970s challenged many basic assumptions about economic policy. Not surprisingly, the shift in policy occurred first in the United States, where the idea of competitive capitalism was strongest. Its main proponent was President Ronald Reagan whose primary domestic mission was to roll back the frontiers of the state. Indeed, the term 'Reaganomics' was invented to describe his programme of free market economics (p. 5). Johnson, D. and Turner, C. (2003) International business: themes and issues in the modern global economy. London: Taylor and Francis. Key points: 1950s/60s - Keynesian economics (economies controlled by managing demand) 1970s - worldwide economic problems forced questioning of this policy 1970s - change to liberal economics US first to change Less State intervention became new way forward Main player = Ronald Reagan - 'Reaganomics'

It should be noted that avoiding plagiarism is about more than referencing correctly. It involves acknowledging other people's ideas and being careful not to copy their expression.

Learning how to discuss the work of others within your own writing, and acknowledging it correctly, is an essential part of academic work and will help you progress in your own learning.