Q. How can I check my paper for plagiarism before submitting it to my instructor?

The best way to avoid plagiarism is to be mindful about your sources during the research and writing process:

• Carefully keep track of your research before you write.  A research journal and citation management tool can be a big help.
• Make sure you paraphrase or quote your sources correctly as you write. 
• Double-check that you've correctly cited all of your sources after you write.  (Use your style guide!)

See also: Where can I have my paper proofread or reviewed?

Please note: The official plagiarism detection tool used by the University is Turnitin (read more below).  The University and the Library do not endorse the free checkers linked above and cannot guarantee that their results will be accepted by your professor. 

APUS subscribes to Turnitin, which is integrated into the classroom Assignments tool.  The library does not have access to this feature in the classroom, so please contact your instructor with questions.    Click here to learn more about Turnitin at APUS.