How should writers incorporate evidence to avoid plagiarism?

Prepare for the New York State Literacy CST Exam with interactive quizzes. Use comprehensive flashcards and multiple-choice questions to enhance your exam readiness. Get the skills you need for success!

The main idea is that you must attribute sources whenever you use evidence from other writers, so your work shows both your understanding and where ideas came from. To do this well, combine exact quotes with quotation marks and a proper citation when you want the original wording to stand as is. When you restate someone else’s idea in your own words, that paraphrase also needs a citation, and you should ensure you truly restate the meaning rather than just changing a few words. In addition, provide a complete citation so readers can locate the source themselves. Relying on memory alone isn’t enough because it can lead to misremembered details or missing sources, which still amounts to presenting others’ ideas as your own. By mixing accurate quotations, thoughtful paraphrase, and clear citations, you acknowledge the original authors and integrate evidence responsibly into your writing.