When you write papers in college, your work is held to the same standards of citation as the work of your professors. Your professors observe these conventions for two reasons: First, citing sources allows scholars to give credit to other scholars for their hard work and their ideas. Second, by citing sources, scholars provide a roadmap for readers who are interested in learning more about a topic and joining the ongoing conversation about that topic.
When you fail to cite your sources, or when you cite them inadequately, you are plagiarizing, which is taken extremely seriously at Harvard. Plagiarism is defined as the act of either intentionally OR unintentionally submitting work that was written by someone else. If you turn in a paper that was written by someone else, or if you turn in a paper in which you have included material from any source without citing that source, you have plagiarized. As you begin your Harvard career, it's important to take the time to understand what constitutes plagiarism, why plagiarism is considered such a serious offense, and how to avoid plagiarizing in your own writing.
In addition to making sure you understand the material in this section, you should also consult departmental guides for additional information relevant to expectations in different courses you take, both in your concentration and in other departments. You should also be familiar with Harvard's official policy on plagiarism and collaboration and the Harvard College Honor Code.