Academic Integrity

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Academic Integrity

I expect that each of you will generate your own work, and will reference any information, idea, images, and/or wording that is not your own. It is always necessary to acknowledge another person's information, idea, image or wording in a document that you produce. When you do not do so, you prevent the reader from further exploring the topic, and you commit intellectual theft, or plagiarism.

There are two basic and universal rules regarding the use of information in professional and, especially, academic writing:

  1. If you use the language of your source, you must quote it exactly, enclose it in quotation marks, and cite the source.
  2. If you use ideas of information that are not common knowledge, you must cite the source.

The following pages offer information and help on avoiding plagiarism.

For more information on plagiarism contact Penn State's Undergraduate Writing Center . If you are concerned about the consequences of plagiarism see Penn State 's Student Guide to University Policies and Rules, 2005-2006.