In academic writing such
as assignments, dissertations, theses, research
articles and reports it is standard practice to give
an overview of the current knowledge about a
topic and to provide evidence to support the points
that you make. These ideas will form the foundation
for your own arguments and will be integrated into
your own work by
- quoting (using the
exact words of another),
- paraphrasing
(using the ideas of another in your own words),
or
- summarising (using
the main points of another).
If you do not
acknowledge them correctly it indicates that
either
- you have not yet
mastered the skill of referencing (citation) -
which can be learned with the help of your
lecturers, or
- you have given in
to cheating - which will have to be unlearned
because it constitutes criminal behaviour.
In either case you may
be accused of PLAGIARISM
which can have serious consequences for your
academic career and eventually for your professional
career.
|