Which statement supports academic integrity when submitting assignments?

• A. Copy another student's work and submit as your own.
• B. Failing to cite sources is acceptable if there are few sources.
• C. Paraphrase without citation to avoid plagiarism checks.
• D. Cite sources properly, follow style guidelines, and use originality checks when required.

Answer: (D)

Academic integrity in submitting assignments means your work reflects your own effort and clearly credits ideas that aren’t yours. The best approach is to cite sources properly, follow the required style guidelines, and use originality checks when they’re part of the process.

Citing sources shows where ideas come from and lets others verify them or explore the original materials. Following style guidelines keeps your work organized and professional, which helps prevent accidental misquoting or misattribution. Using originality checks helps confirm that the submitted work is primarily your own and that any borrowed content is properly quoted or paraphrased with attribution.

Copying someone else’s work as your own violates trust and is considered cheating. Failing to cite sources isn’t acceptable, even if you think there are only a few; attribution is required for any borrowed idea or data. Paraphrasing without citation to dodge plagiarism checks still counts as plagiarism because the underlying ideas aren’t your own.

So, the responsible approach combines proper citation, adherence to formatting standards, and use of originality checks to uphold integrity and demonstrate your own understanding.