Cite with Confidence: An Academic Writing Guide for International Students

Cite with Confidence: An Academic Writing Guide for International Students

A strong university assignment makes it clear which ideas are yours and which come from another source. Accurate citation also helps your reader find the evidence behind your argument.

Seoul National University Library’s Turnitin guidance explains that a similarity score is not a plagiarism percentage. A high score can include legitimate overlap, while a low score does not prove that all borrowed material has been acknowledged. Read the matched passages rather than judging a paper by one number. libguide.snu.ac.kr

Create a source log as you research. Record the author, title, publication date, page numbers and link or DOI. Mark copied passages as quotations immediately so they cannot accidentally become part of your own draft.

When paraphrasing, explain the source’s meaning in your own structure and still cite it. Replacing a few words does not turn someone else’s argument into your original work. For a direct quotation, follow the required quotation and page-reference format.

Before submitting, check the course’s required citation style, collaboration rules and policy on AI or translation tools. Permission in one class does not automatically apply in another. Ask the instructor about uncertain cases before the deadline.

Review every in-text citation against your reference list. Open your final file and check that quotations, tables and images have the necessary acknowledgments. If your university provides a similarity checker, use its authorized account and submission instructions.

The goal is a traceable argument, not merely a lower similarity score.

Source: Seoul National University Library’s Turnitin guide.

Guidance checked: November 2, 2026. Assignment and academic-integrity rules remain institution- and course-specific.