A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations, 7th edition - Kate L. Turabian 2007

Guard against inappropriate assistance
Drafting your report
Part I. Research and writing: from planning to production

Experienced writers regularly show their drafts to others for criticism and suggestions, and you should too. But instructors differ on how much help is appropriate and what help students should acknowledge. When you get help, ask two questions:

1. How much help is appropriate?

For a class paper, most instructors encourage students to get general criticism and minor editing, but not detailed rewriting or substantive suggestions.

For a thesis, dissertation, or work submitted for publication, writers get all the help they can from teachers, reviewers, and others so long as they don't become virtual ghost writers.

Between those extremes is a gray area. Ask your instructor where she draws the line, then get all the help you can on the right side of it.

2. What help must you acknowledge in your report?

For a class paper, you usually aren't required to acknowledge general criticism, minor editing, or help from a school writing tutor, but you must acknowledge help that's special or extensive. Your instructor sets the rules, so ask.

For a thesis, dissertation, or published work, you're not required to acknowledge routine help, though it's courteous and often politic to do so in a preface (see A.2.1). But you must acknowledge special or extensive editing and cite in a note major ideas or phrases provided by others.