Academic Integrity #ProTips: Citation

Citation: Why does it matter?

Citation is important because it properly credits the original author or creator’s work. It also provides a resource for those interested in researching the original source material. By failing to properly cite, you are falsely presenting someone else’s ideas as your own. This is plagiarism, regardless of whether you intended to do it or not.

Citation Styles

The most common citation styles used at Schulich are APA and MLA. Although they differ in style, the result is the same: it provides a clear path to the original source material used. The library provides a useful resource, which includes examples, for using APA and MLA. They also have information regarding citation management tools like Zotero and Mendeley.

Where can I learn more about academic integrity and citation?

Citation Workshop: Listen Now!

The Bronfman Library recently hosted a workshop on Stress-Free Citation and Integrity.
If you missed it:
You can access the slides from this link: Cite it Right with APA Zoom version – Fall 2020
You can access the recording from this link.

Listen Here

Academic Honesty Modules on Canvas

Did you know that Schulich created a brand new Academic Honesty module this year? The modules cover a variety of topics like Citation and Plagiarism, Group Work, Cheating, and Aiding and Abetting. If you’re interested in taking the modules, please email: academichonesty@schulich.yorku.ca.

Problems & #ProTips

My Problem	My #ProTip
I don’t know which citation style to use.	Check your syllabus to see what your instructor prefers or ask them directly. Don’t just use the one you like; ask your instructor first!
I’m not sure if something needs a citation.	If it is a direct quote or something you paraphrased, you need to cite it. Your own thoughts (I like stats) and common knowledge (the earth is round) do not need citation.
I provided proper in-text citations. Do I need a bibliography?	Yes! Proper citation needs both in-text citations and a bibliography.
I’m unsure if something is properly paraphrased.	Paraphrasing is not simply changing a few words around. It is taking someone else’s work, saying it in your own words and then providing proper citation. Think of it like telling a friend about a movie you like; you would summarize the story in your own words rather than tell them the entire movie line by line. If you are having trouble deciding if something you wrote is paraphrased, review the original material. You can then directly quote the source or paraphrase it further if they are too similar.
I consulted an unusual web source, like a blog post.	New media and social media follow the same rules, requiring proper citation in your assignments. Check out the Bronfman Library’s Business Citation Guide, for examples and instructions on how to cite a variety of social media sources.