Introduction to Library Research
Welcome
 

Library Orientation

Chesnutt Library
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Resources Supported by FSU

Web for Students
What is Web for Students?
What can I do on Web for Students?
How do I use Web for Students?

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Services Provided by Chesnutt Library

My Library Record
What is My Library Record?
What can I do in My Library Record?
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What is my PIN?

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Off Campus Access
What is Off Campus Access?

Who has Off Campus Access?
What can I do with Off Campus Access?
How do I get Off Campus Access?

What is my PIN?

What if I have a question or need help?

Interlibrary Loan

What is Interlibrary Loan?

How do I use Interlibrary Loan?

What if I have questions or need help?

Library Guide to Starting Research

Developing a Research Topic
Generate Topic Ideas

Define Your Topic

Construct the Research Question

Select Keywords to Use as Search Terms

Keep Track of Sources

Collecting Background Information
Why start with reference sources?

Types of Reference Sources

How to find Reference Sources

Identifying Types of Information Sources
Introduction
Primary and Secondary Sources

Scholarly and Popular Sources

The Web and Library Databases
 

Evaluating Information Sources

Introduction

Guidelines for Selecting Sources

Caution! Web Sources

Checklist for Evaluation Information

Citing Information

Citing Sources and Plagiarism

Citation Styles

Style Manuals Available at Chesnutt Library

Searching for Materials at Chesnutt Library

Searching the Chesnutt Library Online Catalog

What will I find in the Chesnutt Library online catalog?

How do I find books in the Chesnutt Library Online catalog?

How do I find the book or item?

Searching for journal articles, book reviews, etc.

How do I find journal articles, book reviews, etc.?

Search for your topic and create a list of article citations.

Searching for Journal Titles

How do I find journal titles in the Chesnutt Library online catalog?

Citing Sources and Plagiarism

Why do you need to cite sources?

A key component of quality academic research is giving credit to and acknowledging the contributions of the scholars whose work you are using in your research.  Academic scholarship is built upon the work of others, being able to distinguish who contributed what to your research is very important.  Accurate citations also allow readers to refer to the same resources you used to and form their own opinions.

Not giving credit for sources, or even ideas, is plagiarism.

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s words or ideas as your own.  Obviously direct quotation (verbatim) needs to be cited, or it is plagiarism.  If you use someone’s words with some rearranging and change a few of the words, then you still need to cite the source, what you have done is paraphrase the source.  An idea that inspired you, or that you borrowed, and based your research on must also be cited because it was someone else’s idea originally. 

You do not have to cite common knowledge.  Common knowledge is the sort of facts everyone (mostly everyone) knows:

-         the current president’s name

-         the earth is round

-         Atlanta is the capital of Georgia

-         bats are the only mammals that fly

-         alligators are crocodilians.  

How do you avoid plagiarism?

To put it simply, cite your sources; give credit where it is due. 

The citation manual for the style you are using (ex. APA, MLA) will have tips on avoiding plagiarism.  The citation manual will also give examples on how to use citations.  

Plagiarism is wrong and has serious consequences.

Useful links to web pages that describe plagiarism, give examples of plagiarism, and show you how to avoid plagiarism.

UNC-CH Libraries: http://www.lib.unc.edu/instruct/citations/

Emory University: http://web.library.emory.edu/services/ressvcs/citation/citationstyles.html

University of Georgia Libraries: http://www.libs.uga.edu/researchcentral/writing/stay.html

Citation Styles

Citing sources is not hard or complicated.  There are several things you can do to make the process easier.

Decide the Style

Most subjects, or professors, have a style manual that is commonly used.  For example, psychology uses the APA style, described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 

Common styles and their manuals include:

APA - Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

MLA - MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

CBE - Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers

Chicago - The Chicago Manual of Style

Always use the newest edition of the style manual.

Review the format for citation in you style manual.

You will need to make citations in two places:

-         In the text of your paper you will have in-text citations or footnotes.

-         At the end of you paper you will have works cited or a bibliography.

If you are familiar with the citation format of your style manual you can take notes and record sources in the style.  This means less work at the end of your paper writing!

Style Manuals and Information on Writing Papers a reference page prepared by the librarians at the Charles W. Chesnutt Library. Here you can find more information about citations and plagiarism.

Style Manuals Available at Chesnutt Library

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed., FSU Reference BF 76.7 .P83 2001    

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed., LB2369 .G53 2003    

Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers, 6th ed., T11. S386 1994 

The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed., Z253 .U69 1993

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Charles W. Chesnutt Library, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, N.C. 28301
Page Maintained By: Laura Bell Wright lwright@uncfsu.edu
Last Updated: 8/31/04