Visual Literacy and Plagiarism

If you use an image in your work, you must cite it!  This includes papers, presentations, theses/dissertations, publications, blogs, etc. You must give credit where credit is due, AND, citing makes YOU look professional!  Library Databases and the Creative Commons are great resources to find and use images.  Use this guide to help you use and cite images correctly. Cite and avoid committing plagiarism!

Note:  Unless the image is in the Public Domain or under a Creative Commons License - ALWAYS ASK FOR PERMISSION TO USE!

"Thief" by Nina Paley /CC BY-SA 3.0 

This guide was adapted from the MSU Image Citation and Visual Plagiarism guides.

Citing your sources and giving credit where credit is due is an important part of using other's work for your research. By citing your sources, you are avoiding plagiarism AND giving yourself credibility as a creator.

• Plagiarism: This occurs when you borrow another's images, words, ideas, findings, etc., WITHOUT their consent/acknowledgement. In other words, it is considered stealing.

  Always properly cite your sources in the bibliography/reference list at the end of your work.

• Questions to consider: 

  • Am I deliberately recalling any particular source of information as I write this paper?

  • Am I consulting or inspired by any source as I write this paper, create this presentation, make this film, animation, or artwork?

    If the answer to these questions is no, you can successfully avoid plagiarism. If it is yes, then you must cite.

As a scholar and creator, you ethically credit the researcher who took the time, effort, and knowledge to research, write, and publish their work. 

• Citing demonstrates that gives researchers credibility. It showcases that researchers have properly conducted your research and identified your sources. 
• Citing the sources/information allows researchers to properly locate those sources through your footnotes, bibliography or reference list. 
• Citations also allow your readers to find more information about the facts and opinions you present in your work. They allow your readers
  to identify the range of perspectives you've considered and how the work of others has informed your own conclusions.