Skip to Main Content

ME 2300: Introduction to Engineering Design: Citing Sources Overview

Introduction to Citations

 

Please provide feedback on this video tutorial here: https://wpi.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2fb7Ax9nV2nHwnb

Documenting Sources: When, Why, and How to Cite

Citing Sources

Research papers, Qualifying Projects, and other writing that incorporates information or ideas from sources must include suitable citations of the sources.

You must provide a citation 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

The citation may take one of the following forms:

Parenthetical citations in your text following the borrowed passages, plus at the end of your paper a list of works cited

Foototes or endnotes, that is, raised numbers following the borrowed passages in your text, plus citations either at the bottom of your pages or at the end of your paper.

By citing your sources you:

Demonstrate to your reader how your own ideas stem from, differ from, or relate to those in your sources;

Support your ideas by showing that authorities in the field have similar ideas;

Assist your reader, who may want to look further into the sources that you found helpful;

Share intellectual activity honestly and properly.

Check with your professor or project advisor about which citation style is appropriate to your field and topic. Ask a librarian for help with formatting citations.

 

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 appropriately.

Related Guides