Ethical Considerations in Writing

Ensuring Original Writing

Original writing means that the ideas, analysis, and expression in your essay are your own. You can use sources, but you must interpret and present them in your own words and thinking.

Finding Credible Sources:

Use:

• Peer-reviewed academic journals (Google Scholar, JSTOR, PubMed)
• Academic books from reputable publishers
• Government and institutional reports (UN, WHO, World Bank, etc.)
• Reputable newspapers and magazines (BBC, The Guardian, Dawn, etc.)
• Official statistics databases

Avoid:

• Wikipedia (as a main source)
• Anonymous blogs
• Unverified websites
• Social media posts

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Evaluating Sources (CRAAP Test)

• Currency: Is the information up to date?
• Relevance: Does it match your topic?
• Authority: Is the author qualified?
• Accuracy: Is it supported by evidence?
• Purpose: Is there bias or hidden agenda?

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Proper Citation and Referencing

Citation means acknowledging the sources you used in your writing.

Why citation is important:

• Gives credit to original authors
• Allows verification of information
• Shows research effort
• Prevents plagiarism
• Increases credibility

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Citation Styles

APA Style:

• In-text: (Ahmed, 2021)
• Reference: Ahmed, S. (2021). The future of education in Pakistan. Lahore Press.

MLA Style:

• In-text: (Ahmed 45)
• Works Cited: Ahmed, Salman. The Future of Education in Pakistan. Lahore Press, 2021.

Chicago Style:

• Uses footnotes/endnotes
• Includes bibliography

Important Rule:
Use only one citation style consistently.

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Integrating Quotes and Evidence

You can use:

• Direct quotations
• Paraphrasing
• Summarizing

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1. Direct Quotation

Use exact words with citation.

Use when:

• wording is powerful
• precise meaning is needed
• analyzing language

Example:
Ahmed (2021) states that “education is the most powerful tool for breaking poverty” (p. 45).

Rules:

• Use quotation marks for short quotes
• Use block quotes for long quotes
• Do not change original wording
• Use ellipsis (...) or [brackets] if needed
• Do not overuse quotes

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2. Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing = rewriting idea in your own words.

Original: Social media has changed global communication.
Paraphrase: Digital platforms have transformed how people communicate worldwide (Khan, 2022).

Warning:

• Changing only a few words is still plagiarism

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3. Summarizing

Summarizing = shortening main ideas of a source in your own words.

Used when:

• you want the main idea only
• details are not needed

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Synthesis of Evidence

Good writing combines multiple sources to:

• compare ideas
• show agreement/disagreement
• build stronger arguments

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Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism = using someone else’s work without credit.

Types of plagiarism:

1. Direct plagiarism — copying word-for-word
2. Mosaic plagiarism — patchwriting
3. Paraphrase plagiarism — poor rewriting without citation
4. Self-plagiarism — reusing your own old work
5. Accidental plagiarism — missing citations
6. Idea plagiarism — using someone’s idea without credit

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How to Avoid Plagiarism:

• Always cite sources
• Use quotation marks for direct quotes
• Paraphrase properly (fully rewrite)
• Cite even when unsure
• Keep source records
• Use plagiarism checkers (Turnitin, Grammarly, etc.)

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What Does NOT Need Citation:

• Common knowledge (e.g., Pakistan gained independence in 1947)
• Your own ideas and analysis
• Widely known facts

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Ethical Writing Practices:

• Always give credit
• Do not copy from others
• Do not buy essays
• Use sources to support your ideas, not replace them