In the sciences, results are usually discussed in relation to the work of others. Your writing will therefore often refer to results or conclusions that are not your own. This is fine as long as you clearly distinguish between your results and those obtained from other workers or the literature. Each time outside results are cited, a reference must be provided to the original source.

A related issue lies in the use of quotes from another work. The exact duplication of text from an outside source is acceptable only if it is placed in quotations and a reference provided. Paraphrasing or summarizing other results can also be acceptable if a reference is provided. However, incorporating another authors words or style into your own writing is not allowed, even if the original work is referenced. A discussion of this issue and some useful examples of acceptable vs. unacceptable use are provided in "Avoiding Plagiarism @ Oregon State University" at http://osu.orst.edu/admin/stucon/plag.htm

When there are group assignments or reports, make certain that you understand the instructor's expectations for shared vs. individual contributions. Students often do experimental work in groups, and are encouraged to discuss the lab results and data analyses with others. However, report writing is most often expected to be an individual effort.

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