Final answer:
It is false that one can copy material from a website without citation, as this constitutes plagiarism. Proper citations are required for all sources used, and when an author or publication date is unavailable, as much information as possible should be provided about the source.
Step-by-step explanation:
When writing a report, it is not permissible to copy material from a website without citing it because the information is available for the public to use. This statement is false. Even if information is publicly available, it is considered plagiarism when someone copies a passage word for word from an Internet site and pastes it into their paper without including quotation marks or an author attribution. While it is acceptable to use material that is considered common knowledge without citation, such as historical dates or general laws of science, it is essential to provide proper citations for unique material that is not common knowledge.
For example, using the CTRL + F feature on web pages, the minimum requirement for citing internet sources is to place an in-text, parenthetical citation with the author's last name or an abbreviated title of the work. In cases where the online source lacks an author or date of publication, it is still necessary to list as much information as you can find on the website. Reliable sources should always be sought out, and it is crucial to verify who is producing the website, its objective nature, and if the information can be corroborated with other sources. Researchers and students alike are responsible for correctly citing all sources that inform their work.