This web site is intended to help students in writing essays and other papers by giving basic information on the proper use and proper acknowledgment of source material. Scholarly work in every field requires use of other people's published-and occasionally unpublished-material. Academic honesty requires that this use be frankly and completely identified and acknowledged. The failure to do this is plagiarism.

It is assumed that students author all course work (quizzes, tests, papers, lab work, etc.) which they submit, whether for a grade or not. Any ideas, data, or phrases borrowed from others should be fully acknowledged in writing by standard procedures for making such acknowledgment, which are outlined in this pamphlet. (Additional copies are available in the office of the Dean of the College.)

An act of academic dishonesty is a serious offense in a college community. By seeking credit for work which is not his or her own, a student takes unfair advantage of fellow students, who accept their limitations, and of teachers, who trust that the work received is the student's. Dishonesty in academic work, particularly in the form of plagiarism, also defeats the process of self-discovery which is the heart of a liberal education. People establish their integrity and personality only as they learn to distinguish what is significantly their own from what belongs to another, only as they learn to value their own work, including its limitations, in relation to the work of others. As a scholar, finally, one should be generous in acknowledging the work of other scholars, for their work makes possible one's own.

At Carleton College, an act of academic dishonesty is therefore regarded as conflicting with the work and purpose of the entire College and not merely as a private matter between the student and an instructor; all cases involving such dishonesty are referred to the Academic Standing committee for appropriate action. This action can vary from a grade of Unsatisfactory in the given piece of work to a recommendation of permanent dismissal from the College in cases of repeated or serious offenses.

Students may obtain additional help in proper bibliographic form and other mechanics of writing papers from the Student Academic Support programs. Various study materials showing how different disciplines acknowledge sources are also available in the Library and the Bookstore.