Writing Resources for Students
Avoiding Plagiarism
CSU, Chico students should understand and abide by the University’s policy on academic integrity: http://www.csuchico.edu/prs/EMs/EM04/em04_36.htm.
What Is Plagiarism?
"In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source.
This definition applies to texts published in print or on-line, to manuscripts, and to the work of other student writers.
Most current discussions of plagiarism fail to distinguish between:
- Submitting someone else’s text as one’s own or attempting to blur the line between one’s own ideas or words and those borrowed from another source, and
- Carelessly or inadequately citing ideas and words borrowed from another source.
Such discussions conflate plagiarism with the misuse of sources. Ethical writers make every effort to acknowledge sources fully and appropriately in accordance with the contexts and genres of their writing. A student who attempts (even if clumsily) to identify and credit his or her source, but who misuses a specific citation format or incorrectly uses quotation marks or other forms of identifying material taken from other sources, has not plagiarized. Instead, such a student should be considered to have failed to cite and document sources appropriately."
From the Council of Writing Program Administrators’ “Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices” http://www.wpacouncil.org
Documentation
The Meriam Library provides a comprehensive list of "Citation Formats & Style Manuals," including APA, MLA, Chicago, and CBE styles. Included are guidelines for citing Internet sources and databases. Printable style guides are also available:
EasyBib is an Internet service that formats your bibliography for you in either MLA or APA style:
MLA - Modern Language Association
The Modern Language Association does not publish its documentation guidelines on the Web. For an authoritative explanation of MLA style, see the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (for high school and undergraduate college students) and the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing (for graduate students, scholars, and professional writers).
The Writing Center has copies of the MLA Handbook for student use.
Please also see frequently asked questions about MLA style:
The University of Wisconsin, Madison also offers guidance in MLA documentation:
APA - American Psychological Association
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is the style manual choice for writers, editors, students, educators, and professionals in psychology, sociology, business, economics, nursing, social work, and justice administration:
The Student Learning Center has copies of the APA manual for student use.
The Psych Web page offers links to APA resources:
CMS - Chicago Manual of Style
The following Web site interprets The Chicago Manual of Style’s recommendations:
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/cmosfaq/cmosfaq.html
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center guides writers in the use of Chicago style documentation:
The Ohio State University Libraries provides easy-to-follow examples of Chicago style documentation:
English as a Second or Foreign Language (ESL or EFL) Students
The SLC Writing Tutors may help you in the process of learning to write in American academic English.
We may also help you understand how the cultural conventions of this writing differ from those in your native language or country.
This process takes time. We may not be able to make your writing sound like a native English speaker’s, but we do encourage you to make weekly appointments in which we work with you to set reasonable goals for developing as a writer in the University.
Dave’s ESL Café offers a wealth of resources and links for students learning English as a second or foreign language, including live chat:
The Purdue University Writing Lab supplies resources, including printer-friendly handouts and exercises designed to help ESL and EFL students:
ESL Magazine is a print magazine for English as a second or foreign language educators:
Proofreading & Editing
The University Writing Center is not a proofreading and editing service. We do not do your writing work for you. Rather, the Center is a teaching service, providing trained tutors to help you learn to proofread and edit your work yourself.
Here are some commonly used proofreading marks your professors may use:
The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Writing Center provides advice for learning to proofread and edit:
The Purdue University Writing Lab (OWL) offers guidance for students learning to proofread and edit, including handouts you may download and print:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_proof.html
English 130
The Meriam Library offers useful on-line resources for students in English 130: Academic Writing:
Meriam Library Handouts, Course and Subject Guides
These include printable documentation guides, advice on evaluating Internet sources, and more:
Services for Students with Disabilities
The Student Learning Center is committed to assuring that students with disabilities are provided access to our services.
If you have a documented disability that may require reasonable accommodation, please contact Disability Support Services (DSS) for coordination of your academic accommodations. DSS is located in SSC 170. The DSS phone number is 898-5959 V/TDD or FAX 898-4411.
Visit the DSS Web site at http://www.csuchico.edu/dss/.
If you have a disability and need accommodation in the SLC, please let us know when you make your appointment.