At MVRHS, we value academic integrity and the ethical use of information. This guide outlines the expectations for citing sources and using information responsibly in all academic work, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.
Why Cite Sources?
Source citations are essential for several reasons. They:
- Give credit: They acknowledge the original authors and creators of the information you use.
- Avoid plagiarism: They prevent you from presenting someone else’s work as your own.
- Support your arguments: They strengthen your work by providing evidence and credibility.
- Allow for verification: They enable readers to locate and verify the sources you used.
What Needs to Be Cited?
You must cite the following:
- Direct quotes: Any words or phrases taken directly from a source.
- Paraphrased information: Ideas or information from a source that you have reworded.
- Summarized information: A condensed version of a larger work or idea.
- Facts and statistics: Information that is not common knowledge.
- Images, charts, and graphs: Visual materials from any source.
- AI-generated content: Any content, including text, images, code, or other media, that was created by an AI tool.
- Include the AI prompt in the citation
- Your teacher may ask that the AI generated content is shared with them.
Ethical Use of Information
Ethical use of information goes beyond simply citing sources. It includes:
- Honesty: Representing information accurately and not misrepresenting sources.
- Integrity: Avoiding fabrication or falsification of data.
- Respect for intellectual property: Obtaining permission to use copyrighted material beyond fair use.
- Responsible use of digital resources: Evaluating the credibility of online sources and avoiding plagiarism from websites.
- Recognizing bias and respecting privacy: Consider potential information bias and privacy concerns when using sources
Ethical Use of AI
The use of AI tools in academic work can be beneficial, but it is important to use them ethically. Always check with your teachers before using AI tools for assignments. This includes:
- Transparency: Clearly disclosing when you have used AI tools to generate classwork.
- Critical evaluation: Evaluating the output of AI tools carefully and ensuring that it is accurate and reliable. You are accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the content you submit.
- Avoiding over-reliance: Using AI tools as a support for your own learning and thinking, not as a replacement for it.
- Respecting AI authorship: Recognizing that AI tools are not human authors and should not be treated as such.
- Use AI as a Thought-Partner: Use AI responsibly for tasks like brainstorming, outlining, or clarifying concepts, rather than as a primary source of information.
For more, see the A.I. Usage Guidelines in the Student Handbook.
Consequences of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious academic offense at MVRHS. Consequences may include:
- Lowered grade on the assignment
- Failing grade in the course
- Disciplinary action
For more info, see the Academic Honesty at MVRHS and the Statement of Academic Honesty for Midterm and Final Exams.
Where to Get Help
If you have questions about citing sources or ethical use of information, including the use of AI tools, please consult:
- Your teachers
- The MVRHS librarian (Mr. McGrath)
- Online citation resources:
- Built-in citation tools are included in:
- MVRHS Library Databases (Gale, etc.)
- Google Docs (from the Tools menu)
- Google Scholar
- Other free citation generators:
- Need more help? Refer to the Purdue OWL.
- Built-in citation tools are included in: