Avoiding plagiarism by understanding when on how to quote sources and paraphrase sources; provide proper in-text citations; and provide proper references is an important part of writing papers, answering essay questions, and even posting to a class discussion board. Please review the information below on plagiarism and the use of references. If you have questions, please contact your course instructor, the CGTC Library, or the Academic Success Center.           What is plagiarism? Plagiarism is when you take someone else's ideas, words, or works and present them as your own. How do I avoid plagiariasm? To avoid plagiarism, you must understand how and when to quote and/or paraphrase another's work when adding it into your classwork. In addition, you must provide what are called in-text citations and references. What happens if I plagiarize? Plagiarism is considered Academic Misconduct in the CGTC Student Handbook. Students who plagiarize material are subject to disciplinary measures ranging from receiving a zero on the assignment, to being removed from the course, to possibly being suspended from the college - based on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Additional information is available in the Student Handbook.            Below is a video explaining plagiarism, followed by links to library resources two popular standards (called "Style Guides") of formatting for avoiding plagiarism.   Watch: Plagiarism: Information Ethics in the Digital Age Video (if you need closed captioning, please use this link. You will need to either be on campus or contact the library for the username and password to access the video).     There are two leading standards for formatting, referencing and in-text citations used at CGTC (different classes use different standards - check with your instructor): MLA and APA. APA Formatting and Style Guide Resources MLA Formatting and Style Guide Resources