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To complete this module Read the Objectives. Read the module contents below. Then complete the exercise set for the module.
An important aspect of information literacy is learning how to use information ethically by citing sources and observing fair use.
When you quote or paraphrase the idea of another person in your research paper, speech or PowerPoint presentation, you must provide a proper citation for the source in a bibliography or list of references to:
Providing references for sources you used also lends credibility to your work, especially if you use authoritative sources. Be sure to provide full citations to all types of sources you use, including:
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A citation must include:
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If you use ideas of others and do not give them credit by citing their work, you are committing plagiarism. Plagiarism is stealing someone else's ideas or words and presenting them as your own. You should give credit by citing your source if you:
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| Image from Microsoft Clip Art | |
| Plagiarism is an honor code violation at JMU, punishable by receiving an F in the course and either suspension or expulsion from JMU. See the JMU Honor Code, Tutorial, and Test. | |
You need to cite sources you use in research papers, speeches, and PowerPoint presentations.
Research Papers and Other Writing Projects
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Speeches
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PowerPoint Presentations
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When you use PowerPoint, be sure to cite sources for any direct quotations or images appearing on a slide. Write the information in a small font in a textbox at the bottom of the slide or under the image. If you use a graphic from the Internet, you should cite it, too, unless it is in the public domain (freeware). Your instructor may also expect you to include a bibliography slide at the end of your slideshow. Your bibliography should not take the place of appropriate oral citations offered during your presentation.
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Below you will find three commonly used style manuals that show how to cite a variety of sources, including documents from the Internet:
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, DC: APA, 2001. (Ref BF76.7 .A46 2001)
- This book presents APA style requirements and provides examples for all types of information sources.
APA Style (examples)
The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York : Modern Language Association of America, 2003. (Ref LB2369 G53 2003)
MLA Style (examples)
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 6th ed. by Kate Turabian. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. (Ref LB2369 T8 1996)
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The style manuals give the most thorough information about how to cite sources properly, but you can also use CheckCite to see examples for citing sources in papers, speeches, and PowerPoint presentations, especially if you are working from home and don't have a style manual. CheckCite gives examples for print and online sources in APA, MLA, and Turabian (Chicago) styles.
The Copyright Law of the United States provides legal protection for intellectual property. In your search for information, you should assume that all materials you find are copyrighted, unless the document specifies that it is public domain, which can be used freely by anyone. An information source does not have to be registered with the Copyright Office to be covered by copyright. It is copyrighted as soon as it is created.
The doctrine of fair use allows copyrighted works to be used for purposes such as criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. Fair use generally applies to nonprofit, educational purposes that do not affect the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. Section 107 of the Copyright Law describes factors to consider in deciding when fair use applies.
The issues related to copyright of computer software, digitized images, and other products and sources are becoming more and more complicated. Some have not as of yet been adequately interpreted by the courts. Remember that all information sources and technology have been created by someone. Depending on how you use their property, you might have to ask those authors, developers, publishers, etc for permission. To be safe, do not copy anything unless you have explicit permission or a clear statement that the item is in the public domain. Whether an information source is copyrighted or in the public domain, you should cite it if you quote or paraphrase it in your paper or speech.
For further information see the Copyright Act and other important documents relating to the law and its interpretation.
The following quiz poses some tough ethical questions relating to information use. See if you can choose the ethical action.
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Mark and James are working on a group GBUS assignment. They have to track the price of company stocks and plot them in a chart. They find the data in a library research database and put it into a chart. Since they created the chart, they include the data without citing the source. Is this ethical?
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