Below is the definition of plagiarism as it appears in the Rasmussen University course catalog and syllabi:
Plagiarism is the act of representing an individual's or organization's words, thoughts, or ideas as one's own.
Examples of plagiarism include:
STUDENTS:
One common form of plagiarism occurs when students do not cite information discussed in an assignment. If it is new information, including information discussed in a discussion forum, the source needs to be cited.
Example: You have an assignment that you give your thoughts on a provided case study. As you are explaining the case study, you would need to cite the case study in the in-text citation as well as in the reference page. You are giving information that you did not know prior to writing the assignment.
Note: To ensure you are not plagiarizing, always cite (document) your sources when you refer to information you learned during your research or study. Even if you've summarized the information or if you've rephrased it into your own words, you still need to cite the source of the information.
Remember the basic rule of plagiarism: if you use, mention, refer to, quote, summarize, paraphrase, describe...someone's else's ideas or facts, other than your own, you must cite them. There is the whole area of "common knowledge," example: the United States has 50 states, which you do not have to cite.
New to APA formatting? Start by viewing our APA Basics webinar or exploring our APA Guide and Writing Guide
Then, consider connecting with a Rasmussen University Librarian through Chat or in a Research Appointment. Peer Tutors also provide support for a course, APA assistance, or Writing support.
Need help with plagiarism? Click here to view an Answer on where you can submit your paper for plagiarism review.
Paraphrasing:
When incorporating a paraphrase into your writing, you will need to provide a citation, just as you would for a direct quotation. Even though you are writing in our own words, you are paraphrasing someone else's ideas. The ideas are not your own.
When paraphrasing, you need to be careful to not plagiarize. Here are some helpful tips for paraphrasing:
Let's take a look at an example:
Original Passage:
Plagiarized Version:
(Notice that much of the text is taken directly from the original source. This passage is not in the writer's own words.)
Paraphrased Correctly Versions: