How do you respect authorship in academic writing?

The idea of contributing to a scholarly conversation is really central here. You don't have a passive audience in academic writing. It's not a theater show, it's a dinner party and part of "respecting authorship" is curating the guests you want to invite to the party. That's what citing other scholars does. It tells your reader what sort of party you are throwing, what the conversations are going to be about, and who they should expect to be there. Another way to think about respecting authorship in your writing is that it's being a good host to the conversation. You acknowledge the contributions everyone makes to the conversation, invite people who will have something interesting to say, and ensure the party is a hit.

Respecting authorship is an ethical academic norm and exercise. It is about recognising and communicating other's artistic and scientific contributions within the broader evidence generation engagement of a knowledge prodcution process.

This is quite a delicate topic that borders on both ethical principles and morals. In this context, therefore, respecting authorship encompass acknowledging (core aspect of respect), and not plagiarising, distorting, falsifying, copying or making up (other ethical facets). Acknowledging thus means giving credit to the contributions of the author; often through citations and annotation and not taking away this honour by being ethical/moral

Any academic who does not respect authorship of others is a "quack". Respecting authorship in your literature and citations is a demonstration of how widely read you are in your field of research.

Believe it or not, some people really do unintentionally plagiarise. This often happens when you're reading various sources and forming ideas about a concept, but you are not actively writing your sources down. Suddenly, you think all these ideas are yours, but you actually got them from someone else's work. A quick fix to this is to make a note of ALL your sources as as you read, even if this is done passively.

Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property as your own without proper acknowledgment. Copying verbatim, paraphrasing without citation, and submitting someone else's work are clear instances of plagiarism. However, referencing common knowledge, using one's original ideas, and properly citing sources demonstrate ethical writing. Transformative use, where you build upon existing work with substantial creativity, is also acceptable. Properly citing sources, crediting authors, and respecting intellectual contributions distinguish ethical writing from plagiarism, fostering a culture of integrity and originality in academic and creative endeavors.

Do we need to update concepts of plagiarism to make them more universal, and consider how AI and internet sources might be used?

Beware the common sin: Just because you put a passage in quotation marks, that does not mean you can change a few words and paraphrase the author in the next paragraph without giving credit.

Plagiarism: Is it mere word borrowing or the theft of intellectual essence, a disconnect from our shared understanding? If we value each individual’s unique perspectives that shape progress and enrich our collective narrative, what does it signify to appropriate someone else’s voice as if it were our own? Can we truly grasp the emptiness experienced when one’s distinctive contribution is concealed behind another person’s identity by putting ourselves in their shoes? In doing so, are we not compromising the potential and vision that underlie our communal story seeking to bring enlightenment?

Avoiding plagiarism involves diligent citation practices and fostering originality. Follow these steps: Cite Sources: Accurately cite all borrowed material using a recognized citation style. Quotation Marks: Use quotation marks for direct quotes and provide source details. Paraphrase Effectively: When paraphrasing, rephrase ideas in your own words and cite the source. Reference List: Maintain a comprehensive reference list or bibliography. Understand Citations: Learn and apply proper citation rules for various sources. Use Plagiarism Tools: Employ plagiarism detection tools to check your work. Seek Guidance: Consult with instructors or peers when unsure about citation practices.

Avoiding plagiarism requires conscious effort: understand its nuances, value originality, and cite sources diligently. Use technology to check work, review drafts, and seek external feedback. Beyond mere rules, this practice honours the legacy of thought, preserving individual voices within our collective human narrative.

Citations are very important. Besides adding credibility to the information provided, they link the paper to a number of other related resources on the topic, which is very useful for the reader.

Is citation simply a nod to previous scholars, or a more meaningful recognition of our interconnected intellectual journey? When we attribute a source, are we merely providing annotations, or do we acknowledge that our ideas are mere ripples in the vast ocean of collective knowledge? As we use citations, are we only avoiding plagiarism or deliberately forging connections between our individual contributions and the expansive ether of human thought? Ultimately, citation serves as our link to this enduring legacy. It is an act of reverence towards those who paved the way for us and affirming that knowledge is indeed a collaborative journey rather than an isolated pursuit.

From a writer's perspective, citation is a fundamental aspect of academic writing that adds credibility and legitimacy to their work. By including in-text citations and references, writers acknowledge the sources they have consulted and give credit to the original authors. This not only supports their arguments but also allows readers to delve deeper into the topic by referring to the cited sources. Citations demonstrate a writer's ability to conduct thorough research and engage with existing scholarly discourse. Additionally, citations serve as a means of fostering intellectual honesty and integrity within the academic community. They show that writers have taken the time and effort to verify their claims and build upon the work of others.

Citation is the practice of giving credit to the sources of information, ideas, or work used in academic or creative endeavors. It involves providing specific details about the referenced material, such as the author's name, publication date, title, and page numbers. Citations serve two crucial purposes: acknowledging intellectual contributions and enabling readers to locate the cited sources for further verification. Various citation styles, like APA, MLA, and Chicago, offer standardized formats for citing diverse sources. Ultimately, proper citation promotes transparency, academic integrity, and the ethical use of information in scholarly writing and research.

Unfortunately academic publishing has circled the drain of citation overload. Many academics demand citations of secondary critical material to the exclusion of the author's original contribution. This is because by imposing such strict demands for citation, academics have a greater probability of being cited and therefore raising their profile and prestige. However this comes at the expense of new argumentation and encourages a "don't rock the boat" style of research. It's no coincidence then that much of humanities scholarship is moribund and incredibly tepid due to citation frenzy. Most authors can't bring their own arguments to do the table as much of their articles are taken up with saying "Hail Marys" to other figures in the field.

Correct citation is essential to avoid plagiarism and give credit to original authors. Different disciplines use various styles like APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard. For APA, use author and year in parentheses for in-text citations, and list sources alphabetically on the references page. MLA employs author and page number in parentheses for in-text citations and lists sources on a Works Cited page. Chicago has 2 systems: notes and bibliography, which uses footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography, and author-date, which uses in-text citations and a reference list. Harvard uses author & year in parentheses for in-text citations & lists sources alphabetically in a reference list. Always consult the style guide, or use citation management tools.

Journals have a 'house style': they require a specific citation style for their publication. You can check which one it is by looking on the journal's home page, which usually has a link to 'information for authors' (or something similar). If you are considering submitting an article to a journal, check before you start writing which style your target journal expects you to use. Some academics avoid all this by using an app to hold and input their citation information (these used to be stand-alone, but many now come as part of a word processing programme). This means the writer can easily switch the citation style used in their text if needed.

Paraphrasing effectively involves more than just changing words; it requires a comprehensive understanding of the source material. Follow these steps: Comprehend the Source: Fully understand the original content before attempting to paraphrase. Express in Your Own Words: Rewrite the passage using your unique language and style. Restructure Sentence Structure: Change the sentence structure while preserving the meaning. Check with the Source: Frequently refer back to the source to maintain accuracy. Cite Properly: Even though it's a rewording, always provide proper citation to acknowledge the original authorship. Review and Revise: Carefully review your paraphrased text to guarantee clarity and coherence.

Plagiarism is a grave ethical and academic offense that undermines the principles of integrity and originality. It involves the unauthorized use, reproduction, or representation of someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property as one's own. Plagiarism not only compromises an individual's credibility but also erodes trust in educational and professional settings. To combat this issue, it is imperative to cultivate a culture of academic honesty, cite sources diligently, and utilize plagiarism detection tools when needed. Ultimately, upholding the values of honesty and integrity is not only essential for personal growth but also for the preservation of the intellectual integrity of our academic and creative communities.

Back to my original response above, determining the source of common knowledge, or ideas that have become more commonly known, can make citation tricky. The more knowledge we consume and learn from, the more difficult it can become to determine the original source. Overuse or sharing privileges certain sources over others and certain original contributions can be overlooked - think of women, students or early career researchers, people of colour, non Western and indigenous contributions to knowledge - less cited authors and thinkers that aren't recognised or given credit through the types of 'rules of academia' mentioned by contributors here. Who benefits from these? And who doesn't?