The document provides examples of proper and improper ways to cite sources when writing a paper. It uses quotes from a J.K. Rowling speech to demonstrate plagiarism, questionable paraphrasing, and correct citation. The key aspects of citing sources discussed are using quotation marks, providing references to the original author and source, and including sufficient publication information in citations. Proper citation credits the original author and allows readers to find the source, while plagiarism or poor paraphrasing passes off others' work as one's own.

1. Adapted from http://www.katehart.net/2012/06/citing-sources-quick-
and-graphic-guide.html

2. Original Source

 “There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for
steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you
are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies
with you.”
 J.K Rowling in a commencement speech at Harvard
entitled “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the
Importance of Imagination”
 http://harvardmagazine.com/2008/06/the-fringe-benefits-failure-
the-importance-imagination

3. “There is an expiry date on
blaming your parents for
steering you in the wrong
direction; the moment you are
old enough to take the wheel,
responsibility lies with you.”
Original Source
There is an expiry date on
blaming your parents for steering
you in the wrong direction; the
moment you are old enough to
take the wheel, responsibility lies
with you.
Voldemort’s Paper

4. Plagiarized!

 Exact wording from the
original.
 No quotation marks
 No reference to
Rowling
 A reader would assume
that these are Voldy’s
thoughts, ideas, and
words.
 This is clearly not the
case, so it’s plagiarized.

5. “There is an expiry date on
blaming your parents for
steering you in the wrong
direction; the moment you
are old enough to take the
wheel, responsibility lies with
you.”
Original Source
There is an expiration date on
blaming your parents for steering
you wrong; the moment you’re old
enough to take the wheel, you’re
responsible.
A Dementor’s Paper

6. Plagiarized!

 Some (but not most)
words have been
changed.
 No quotation marks
 No reference to
Rowling
 This is a bad
paraphrase.
 Even if you change a
few words around,
paraphrasing without
credit is the kiss of
death.

7. “There is an expiry date on
blaming your parents for
steering you in the wrong
direction; the moment you are
old enough to take the wheel,
responsibility lies with you.”
Original Source
According to J.K. Rowling,
you can blame your parents
for things until you get your
driver’s license.
Sirius Black

8. Questionable!

 Does credit Rowling
 Not her exact words
 Is this really what
Rowling meant?
 It’s not plagiarism, but
misrepresenting a
source’s meaning is
Siriusly dishonest.

9. “There is an expiry date on
blaming your parents for steering
you in the wrong direction; the
moment you are old enough to
take the wheel, responsibility lies
with you.”
Original Source
According to J.K. Rowling, you
can’t spend your whole life
blaming your parents for
things.
Ron Weasley

10. Questionable!

 Does credit Rowling as
the originator of the idea
 Not her exact words
(good paraphrase)
 When and where did
Rowling say or write this?
 Incorrect citation!
 Ron still needs to
provide information on
the source.

11. “There is an expiry date on
blaming your parents for steering
you in the wrong direction; the
moment you are old enough to
take the wheel, responsibility lies
with you.”
Original Source
Don’t be a whiner. Stop
blaming your parents.
-Snape

12. Good!

 Does not resemble
Rowling’s speech
 Does not imply that
Rowling said it.
 No citation needed.

13. “There is an expiry date on
blaming your parents for steering
you in the wrong direction; the
moment you are old enough to
take the wheel, responsibility lies
with you.”
Original Source
“There is an expiry date on
blaming your parents for
steering you in the wrong
direction,” said J.K. Rowling.
“The moment you are old
enough to take the wheel, the
responsibility lies with you.”
-Neville Longbottom

14. Plagiarism!

 Does credit Rowling as
the originator of the idea
 Puts her exact words in
quotation marks.
 When and where did
Rowling say or write this?
 Incorrect citation!
 Neville, like Ron, still
needs to provide
information on the
source.

15. “There is an expiry date on
blaming your parents for steering
you in the wrong direction; the
moment you are old enough to
take the wheel, responsibility lies
with you.”
Original Source
“There is an expiry date on
blaming your parents for
steering you in the wrong
direction,” said J.K. Rowling.
“The moment you are old
enough to take the wheel, the
responsibility lies with you”
(“The Fringe Benefits of
Failure”).
-Hermione Granger

16. Correct!

 Does credit Rowling as
the originator of the idea
 Puts her exact words in
quotation marks.
 Gives source information
(in-text citation).
 Ten points to
Gryffindor!

17. Your best defense against
plagiarism?

 Constant vigilance!
 (and a good handbook,
like Easy Writer)