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What is Plagiarism?

The University Writing Center

HPAC 136

503-5883

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Plagiarism is a Form of Intellectual Property Theft

What is Intellectual Property?– An Idea– An Invention– An Expression or a Literary Creation– A Unique Name– A Business Method– An Industrial Process– A Chemical Formula– A Computer Program– A Presentation (“Intellectual Properties” )

These are protected legally by:– Copyright– Patent– Trademark (Walker)

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Plagiarism

Plagiarism is an older concept than that of intellectual property. The word was first used by the poet Martial “regarding someone who had ‘kidnapped’ some of his poems by copying them whole and circulating them under the copier’s name” (Morgan and Reynolds). One scholar may borrow and build on the work of another, but he or she does not outright steal it. Avoiding plagiarism is part of the academic code of honor – and a part of an ages-old tradition. Each student accepts responsibility for his or her work upon entering the academy.

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USC UpstateCode of Academic Integrity

“Students are required to properly acknowledge sources as follows: students may not present as their own ideas, opinions, images, figures, languages or concepts of another, including those of other students. Students must acknowledge all sources such as magazines, journals, Internet sites, records, tapes, films and interviews. The common specific uses of source material are: direct quotation; paraphrase; use of ideas; use of figures. . . . Any of the following . . .may be cause for disciplinary action . . . . Plagiarism, or literary theft, in any writing assignment: using others’ words or ideas without consistent, correctly formatted acknowledgement.” (“The Code of Academic Integrity” 96-97).

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General Examples of Plagiarism

Downloading a paper from an internet “paper mill.” Handing in someone else’s paper and calling it your

own. Copying and pasting large portions of internet

material without acknowledging the source. Including source material without acknowledging the

source or indicating the location of the material within the source.

Over-quoting, which results in a cumulative loss of the writer’s voice.

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Why Students Plagiarize(adapted from University of Alberta Libraries)

1. Lack of research skills

2. Poor paraphrasing skills

3. Careless note-taking

4. Confusion about how to properly cite sources

5. Misconceptions about what plagiarism is

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Why Students Plagiarize (cont.)

6. Perception of online information as public knowledge

7. Pressure from family, competition for scholarships and jobs

8. Students ethics 9. Poor time management and organizational skills10. Culturally-based attitudes towards plagiarism (“Why

Students Plagiarize”)

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Key Documentation Conventions

Paraphrase properly. Use quotation marks around direct phrases

or passages. Acknowledge both paraphrases and direct

quotes in text and in bibliography. Use ellipses to leave material out. Use brackets to add material in. Use long quotations sparingly.

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Proper Paraphrasing

Original Source

“Deep learning – transformational learning – requires struggle and periods of getting worse before getting better. The transformational learning curve involves an initial dip into ‘the pit.’ This is the period of confusion and frustration that is central to most learning. Unfortunately many designers of learning try to design this period out of the process (Costa 26).”

Paraphrase – Well or Poorly Written?

Deep understanding – transformational learning – demands grappling and spells of sliding back before going forward. The transformational learning curve includes a first dive into ‘the pit.’ This is the time of turmoil and puzzlement that is what most learning is about. Unluckily, many planners of learning try to plan this time out of the operation.

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Paraphrasing (con’t.)

Original Source

“Deep learning – transformational learning – requires struggle and periods of getting worse before getting better. The transformational learning curve involves an initial dip into ‘the pit.’ This is the period of confusion and frustration that is central to most learning. Unfortunately many designers of learning try to design this period out of the process (Costa 26).”

Assess This Paraphrase:

When trying to truly understand a concept, Costa believes that learners often experience a period of “frustration and confusion” at the outset of the process. Instructors and other “designers of learning” need to take this into account (26).

Idea is in writer’s own style but is attributed to original author.

Key words and phrases are in “ “.Source page is cited (req. for MLA).

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General Citation Issues

Original Text

“Freewriting is a kind of structured brainstorming, a method of exploring a topic by writing about it – or whatever else it brings to mind – for a certain number of minutes without stopping. It consists of a series of exercises, conducted either in class or at home, during which students start with a blank piece of paper, think about their topic, and then simply let their minds wander while they write. For as long as their time limit, they write down everything that occurs to them (in complete sentences as much as possible). They must not stop for anything” (Glenn, Goldthwaite & Connors 225).

Plagiarized or Not?

According to Glenn, Goldthwaite and Connors, freewriting is a kind of structured brainstorming, a method of exploring a topic by writing about it (225).

Freewriting is made up of a succession of drills, carried out either in school or out, when learners begin with an empty journal page, ruminate about their subject matter, and then allow their brains to meander while they jot down ideas (Glenn et al. 225).

Glenn, Goldthwaite and Connors define “freewriting” as a period of time when writers are encouraged to let ideas flow freely onto their pages without interruption for a prescribed period of time (225).

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Example of Over-quoting

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Better

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Guidelines for Avoiding Plagiarism

1. Maintain consistent note-taking practices - keep track of whether your notes are paraphrases or direct quotes.

2. Include page numbers of cited material in your notes.

3. Give full credit to any source material you use, whether paraphrased or quoted directly.

4. Be sure to use acknowledgment phrases, in-text citations and a work cited or bibliography page. (Veit and Gould 399)

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5. Know the citing conventions of the documentation style you are using.

6. Maintain your own voice and style by paraphrasing – do not over-quote.

7. When in doubt, CITE!

Guidelines (cont.)

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Where to Get Help

University Writing Center (HPAC 136) Upstate Library Reference Desk Your instructor Writing and Usage manuals Upstate! Student Handbook

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Works Cited

Costa, Arthur, ed. Developing Minds: A Resource Book, for Teaching Thinking. Alexandria: ASCD, 2001. 26.

Glenn, Cheryl, Melissa Goldthwaite and Robert Connors. The St. Martin’s Guide to Teaching Writing. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003.

“Intellectual Properties.” The University of Texas at Arlington. 26 Jan. 2004. <http://www.uta.edu/tto.ip-defs.htm>.

Morgan, Peter and Glenn Reynolds. “A Plague of Originality.” In The Appearance of Impropriety: How the Ethics Wars Have Undermined American Government, Business and Society. Free Press, 1997.

“The Code of Academic Integrity.” Upstate! Student Handbook: 2005-2006. Veit, Richard and Christopher Gould. Writing, Reading and Research. New York:

Pearson/Longman, 2004.Walker, J. “Intellectual Property in the Information Age: A Classroom Guide to Copyright.”

University of South Florida. 1997. 26 Jan. 2004. <http://www.cas.usf,edu/english/walker/papers/copyright/ipdummie.html>.

“Why Students Plagiarize.” The University of Alberta Libraries. 2002. 26 January 2004. <http://www.library.ualberta.ca/guides/plagiarism/why/index.cfm>.