Citing sources and avoiding plagiarism

This week you should be putting the finishing touches on the first submission of your research paper, which is due next Monday, Oct. 19. That makes it a good time to share with you a valuable new resource to help you cite sources correctly and avoid plagiarism.

Dr. Martin Simpson, Director of the UF Reading & Writing Center, has published a 30-minute video lecture with practical tips for improving your citation skills and avoiding plagiarism. He discusses key elements of the Student Conduct Code, identifies common types of plagiarism, and suggests concrete strategies for improving the use of sources in your writing. Dr. Simpson also addresses some common misconceptions about what constitutes plagiarism and contrasts the expectations for college-level writing with what you may have experienced in high school.

I encourage you to invest half an hour in watching Dr. Simpson’s video. While you’re at it, you may also want to view the other study skills videos produced the Reading & Writing Center, including those on time management, note-taking, and test-taking (Part 1, Part 2).

Exam 1 on E-Learning, Friday

The first exam will be available via E-Learning on Friday, October 2, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. You can log on directly to the course E-Learning site here.

Remember that there will be no lecture, so that you may take the exam during our normal class period, if the rest of your day is full. Friday discussion sections, however, will meet as usual.

Please see the tips for students from E-Learning Support Services, which include good advice like:

If you do encounter technical problems while taking the exam, please contact the UF Computing Help Desk (392-HELP) before contacting your TA or me.

Good luck!