Skip to Main Content

LS 500: Introduction to Graduate Research

Use this guide to help you find scholarly books, periodicals and media.

Check Out This Book

An Author's Rights

In the United States, intellectual property can be owned. Once you write down your idea, record it, draw it, perform it, or put it in some tangible form, it belongs to you; it is copyrighted. As the owner of the copyrighted material, you have the right to decide you can:

  • make a copy of your work, includes photocopies and digital copies
  • publish copies or electronically distribute your work
  • perform or display your work in public
  • prepare derivative works, which means using the original work as the basis for a new work

Fair Use

Fair Use allows the use of portions of copyrighted creative work in educational settings without first obtaining permission for the purpose of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

When you use the ideas of someone else, you must give credit (called citing) the authors of those ideas.

If you do not properly cite the sources you use, you may be guilty of plagiarism.

How To Avoid Plagiarism

As you take notes, include page numbers and source references so you can go back and check for accuracy as you write.
Quote, paraphrase,  and summarize.
Identify quotes with a "Q." Identify information you paraphrase with a "P."
As you write your paper, document the sources you use.
Write in your own words.