If I find the number of accidents on a certain section of highway printed in a brochure published by the New Jersey State Department of Highways, then that is probably reliable. I can use the information in my paper.

If I find the number of accidents printed in an advertisement for one brand of beer, I know that I have some more checking to do. If the advertisement gave no source for that information, I can telephone the beer company, identify myself, and ask for the source of that information. If the company refuses to give it, I cannot use the number in my term paper.

Why? Because the main reason why men and women developed academic writing is to help them in their honest search for truth. To use academic writing for a purpose that is against the search for truth is wrong and unethical.

Occasionally, respected scientists suffer enormous loss of trust, respect and esteem because they falsified evidence in attempting to prove that their hypothesis was valid. They probably lose their tenured job at the university and are never trusted again by the academic community.

You should let these principles guide you in your efforts at academic writing. If you copy the words of someone else, you must use quotation marks and you must say where you found or heard the sentence. If you do not, you will be guilty of plagiarism, a very serious wrong for which your teacher can give you an "F".

© Copyright 2002 Dr. Clyde Coreil