How to avoid plagiarism
• I have relied on someone else’s ideas to help me put an argument in my essay, but I am not quoting them directly. Do I need to acknowledge this? • I haven’t directly quoted my source, but I have paraphrased them. Is this ok and do I need to acknowledge this?
• Is it sufficient to put a single footnote at the end of a paragraph in my essay where the para contains several ideas from an author? • Surely if I use quotation marks that is enough to indicate that the words are not my own? • If my essay is being marked on originality then won’t it affect my mark if I have all these footnotes and citations?
Other tips
• Keep an accurate record of material that you consult when researching for your essay. • Be careful about the sources you rely on! • After doing some research list on a blank sheet the main points necessary to answer the question with refs to authors/cases who’ve given you ideas or which support your ideas. • Use your own words as much as possible (and reference appropriately).
• If my essay is being marked on originality then won’t it affect my mark if I have all these footnotes and citations?