Attribution does not always cover you when you use copyrighted work, however you should attribute or cite sources you use in your writing or creations to avoid plagiarizing. Be sure to be familiar with fair use as you incorporate the work of others into your own.
When should I cite sources?
You should cite sources that you quote, summarize or paraphrase. You should cite any ideas that are not your own. You do not have to cite commonly know facts such as George Washington being the first president. If facts can be found in at least three places, chances are this is common knowledge.
Why do I need to cite?
You should give credit to those who inspired you and helped form your ideas. Citing also leaves a breadcrumb trail for those who read your work to see whose work you used. Others may want to refer to those works for their own research.
What is the correct way to paraphrase?
Here is an excellent tutorial on the principles of paraphrasing from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
http://gseacademic.harvard.edu/~instruct/gutman_library/paraphrasing/intro/player.html
In keeping with these values [five fundamental values: honesty, trust, responsibility, fairness, and respect], Quinnipiac University expects its community members to comply with the usual expectations for honest academic work. In general, community members
Please remember that plagiarism does not only apply to taking the exact wording from a source, but it also applies to paraphrasing, taking someone’s idea, or presenting someone’s work as your own, and not giving credit to the original author. For assistance with your papers and presentations, please contact the Learning Center in Tator Hall. They provide a great amount of help with citation questions.