Roane State Community College

As you are completing your final draft of your essay (any essay using research), complete this checklist step-by-step, checking off items as you complete them. It's incredibly important to cite your research to be a responsible writer and to avoid plagiarism in your writing.

• Go through your paper and underline or highlight EVERY TIME you directly quote (include passages from your research word-for-word and enclose it in quotation marks), paraphrase (take a short passage and reword it in your own words), summarize (take a larger text, like an article, and, in your own words, convey the main points), or otherwise reference an outside source.
• For EVERY PLACE that you have underlined or highlighted:
• Look for words, phrases, and sentences that come directly from the source. Make sure that they are in quotation marks. If you have summarized or paraphrased, make sure you have changed ALL the wording from the original source--not just one or two words throughout.
• Find the corresponding internal citation—if you cannot find one, add it.
• Go over your works cited page and make sure that you have included EVERY SOURCE that you have referenced in your essay—even if you only use it once. Likewise, make sure that every source on your works cited page appears in your letter.
• If you need a resource for MLA or APA citation, we can help! Check out our resources or make an appointment with a tutor.