9.5: Using Information

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Communicating Information

After you have conducted your research and evaluated your sources, you will be communicating your ideas. Creating an outline is a great way to start organizing your thoughts before you begin writing. In an outline, you are mapping out the main ideas you intend to express in your paper and determining how to best incorporate your research. You will learn more about outlining and other ways to organize your ideas in the Academic Success Strategies Chapter. Remember The Writing Center in the Learning Commons is a great resource when you are writing a paper!

Citing Information

An information-literate student knows not only how to find information, but also how to use that information in an effective and ethical manner. Once you have found your sources, you will be connecting ideas and synthesizing the knowledge gained from your research. In order to do so responsibly, you need to give credit to the authors of the material you are using. To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit any time you are using someone else's words or ideas. Giving credit includes when you quote materials directly as well as when you summarize information in your own words. Plagiarism, whether intentional or by accident, can have serious consequences including failing assignments or even a class. Your course syllabus will include more information about your instructor’s policies on plagiarism. Most classes will use either MLA or APA style guidelines for citing sources and formatting papers. The library has numerous resources to help you create correct citations.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Be sure to keep track of all the sources you are using in your paper.
When using the exact words of the author, be sure to include quotations around the material you are quoting. You want to use direct quotations sparingly in your paper.
If you are not sure if a source should be cited or not, go ahead and cite.
Remember, citing is a two-step process. Citing includes an in-text citation where you reference the author in the sentence and a works cited or reference list of all your sources at the end of your paper.
Try summarizing the material in your own words. Even if you are using your own words, you still need to give credit to the author.
Use the citation resources available from the HACC library for examples on how to cite specific sources in MLA, APA or other formats.

Ask for Help! If you are struggling or have questions at any stage of the research process, remember that the HACC librarians are here to help you. You can drop in at the Learning Commons, book an appointment through the library website or chat online with a librarian.