Documenting Sources
Research papers, Qualifying Projects, and other writing that incorporates information or ideas from sources must include suitable documentation of the sources.
You must provide documentation when:
Quoting directly from a source (copying the words of another)
Paraphrasing ideas or information from a source (rewriting a passage in your own words)
Incorporating into your paper information or ideas that are not general knowledge
By documenting your sources you:
Demonstrate to your reader how your own ideas stem from, differ from, or relate to those in your sources;
Assist your reader, who may want to look further into the sources that you found helpful;
Share intellectual activity honestly and properly.
Avoiding Plagiarism
Plagiarism is using the words information ideas of another without properly documenting them. The WPI Academic Honesty Policy clearly specifies that plagiarism, the misrepresentation of the work of another as your own, is an act of academic dishonesty. It is also academically dishonest to allow another person to copy your work and present it as his/her own work. Cases of deliberate plagiarism can result in loss of credit for the assignment or the course project during which the plagiarism is committed. A serious act of plagiarism can result in the student's suspension from WPI.
Students will avoid plagiarism by learning to use and document sources correctly.