Be an ethical user of information!

In our Information Age we have a responsibility to use informaton in an honest and legal manner. We can't copy and paste other people's words and research and claim that they're ours. It's important to give credit to the person who created the idea - cite the resources you use from any source.

Plagiarism means to steal the ideas or words of another person and use them as your own and not give credit to the person who wrote them. It is called LITERARY THEFT! To avoid plagiarism:

1. Keep a record of where you got your information from.
• Record titles, authors, publishers, dates and other relevant information for citation purposes. 
• If you are using a website, also record the URL (web address) and the date you visited the site.
2. Paraphrase - put what you read into your own words.
3. Take jot notes - use keywords and phrases

Quick Search Tips!

1. Begin with a clear topic in mind.
2. Decide what type of resource will help you to learn more about your topic and answer your question.
3. Encyclopedias are a great first stop when looking for basic information on a topic. They will help you to better understand your topic and provide you with keywords to use as you search further. Encyclopedias can come in book or online formats.
4. Your library Online catalog (OPAC) will help you find a book by subject or keyword. Remember to use plurals when looking up topics (dogs instead of dog).
5. Internet websites contain information on almost any topic. REMEMBER: Anyone can put a site on the Web, and it is NOT illegal to put incorrect information on the Web.
6. Evaluate all sources. The information should help answer your original question