Parenthetical citations are necessary, but not sufficient.
* They acknowledge the source of information. This is crucial for giving credit where credit is due and avoiding blatant plagiarism.
* They help readers find the original source. If someone wants to verify your information or learn more, the citations provide a path to the original work.
However, simply including citations doesn't automatically absolve you from plagiarism if you:
* Don't cite every borrowed idea. Even a single sentence taken from another source without attribution is plagiarism.
* Misinterpret or misrepresent the original source. Even with a citation, if you take an idea out of context or twist its meaning, you're still engaging in unethical academic practice.
* Over-rely on quotes. While quotes are useful, too many can make your work appear unoriginal and unengaging.
* Plagiarize unintentionally. Sometimes, plagiarism happens by accident due to poor note-taking or lack of understanding about proper citation methods.
In summary:
Parenthetical citations are vital for academic integrity, but they're not a magic bullet against plagiarism. You must understand the principles of attribution, properly use citations, and strive to express borrowed ideas in your own words whenever possible.