04/22/23

Clearing the Clouds of Clearing the Clouds of PlagiarismPlagiarism

Elizabeth Pyatt, ITSElizabeth Pyatt, ITS

Full Disclosure: Full Disclosure: 1. I am not an attorney1. I am not an attorney2. I am presenting content from external 2. I am presenting content from external resourcesresources

What is Plagiarism?What is Plagiarism?

How do you commit it?How do you commit it? Any “best practices”?Any “best practices”?

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Technical DefinitionsTechnical Definitions

PlagiarismPlagiarism ““Plagiarism is the act of stating orPlagiarism is the act of stating or

implying that another person’s work implying that another person’s work is your ownis your own.”.”– TLT Plagiarism Tutorial for Students– TLT Plagiarism Tutorial for Students

Copyright ViolationCopyright Violation Using another persons creation Using another persons creation without without

the holder’s permission.the holder’s permission. Credit doesn’t always countCredit doesn’t always count Can violate copyright without plagiarizing and Can violate copyright without plagiarizing and

vice-versavice-versa04/22/23

Let’s Dissect PlagiarismLet’s Dissect Plagiarism

04/22/23Image licensed under Fair Use

Outright Nasty Outright Nasty PlagiarismPlagiarism

Wholesale copyingWholesale copying Calling all paper mills!Calling all paper mills! Is Wikipedia also available?Is Wikipedia also available?

“The copyright info says I can….”“The copyright info says I can….”

Commission someone else to write Commission someone else to write your paperyour paper Plagiarism without copyright violationPlagiarism without copyright violation

Stitch together sourcesStitch together sources ““At least I used multiple sources….”At least I used multiple sources….”

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The Originality ReportThe Originality Report

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Images, courtesy of Turnitin

Why is this wrong?Why is this wrong?

Or is it wrong?Or is it wrong?

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Why we (PSU) are Why we (PSU) are concernedconcerned

We want to know you did the workWe want to know you did the work Especially if PSU claims you completed Especially if PSU claims you completed

the requirements for a degreethe requirements for a degree

We want to know where that data We want to know where that data came fromcame from And separate your contributions from And separate your contributions from

previous workprevious work

Do you want to hire a lawyer who Do you want to hire a lawyer who plagiarized through law school?plagiarized through law school?

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““Legitimate” PlagiarismLegitimate” Plagiarism

Cases where credit is typically not Cases where credit is typically not given its duegiven its due SpeechwritersSpeechwriters GhostwritersGhostwriters

Esp Esp celebrity biographies/novelscelebrity biographies/novels News stories from press wires (?)News stories from press wires (?)

Many Sandusky stories from one Many Sandusky stories from one paper:________paper:________

Instructor PowerPoints (ahem)Instructor PowerPoints (ahem) That is, citations often lackingThat is, citations often lacking They often exist in the textbook thoughThey often exist in the textbook though04/22/23

Accidental Plagiarism Accidental Plagiarism (Oops)(Oops)

Inappropriate ParaphraseInappropriate Paraphrase Use almost identical phrasing as sourceUse almost identical phrasing as source

Missing citationMissing citation All data/information that is not yours All data/information that is not yours

must be cited (or footnoted), must be cited (or footnoted), even if even if your phrasing is originalyour phrasing is original

““Self-Plagiarism”Self-Plagiarism” Not exactly plagiarism, but still Not exactly plagiarism, but still NOTNOT

doing the course work…doing the course work…

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Inappropriate Inappropriate ParaphraseParaphrase

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Images, courtesy of Turnitin

Better ParaphraseBetter Paraphrase

Tip 1: Use multiple sources across Tip 1: Use multiple sources across entire paperentire paper

Tip 2: Write, then citeTip 2: Write, then cite Yosemite Valley, located in Yosemite Yosemite Valley, located in Yosemite

National park of Eastern California is a National park of Eastern California is a glacial valley containing the Merced River glacial valley containing the Merced River (NPS 2011)(NPS 2011). The Valley has had a special . The Valley has had a special hold on the mainstream American hold on the mainstream American conscience ever since it was discovered by conscience ever since it was discovered by European Americans in 1833 European Americans in 1833 (Tii 2010, (Tii 2010, Wuerthner 1994)Wuerthner 1994)

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QuotationQuotation

The modern color space as initially The modern color space as initially developed by Albert Munselldeveloped by Albert Munsell[1][1], , distinguishes three parameters of color – distinguishes three parameters of color – hue, value and saturationhue, value and saturation[2] [2] (also (also known as intensity or chroma) known as intensity or chroma) [3][3]. . Munsell defines “hue” as follows”Munsell defines “hue” as follows”[4][4]::

“Hue is the quality by which we distinguish one color from another as a red from a yellow, a green, a blue or a purple” —Munsell, 1905 §21

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Writing Process TipsWriting Process TipsFind topic you like whenever possibleFind topic you like whenever possible

You’ll be more motivated and absorb moreYou’ll be more motivated and absorb more

Start researching as soon as possibleStart researching as soon as possible Use the Library to find quality sourcesUse the Library to find quality sources

Use a notetaking system to find Use a notetaking system to find citationscitations Notecards, stickies, Word file, online notes.Notecards, stickies, Word file, online notes.

DON’T copy text from somewhere elseDON’T copy text from somewhere else Unless you intend to put it in quote marksUnless you intend to put it in quote marks Write freely and put in empty citationsWrite freely and put in empty citations

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Citation TipsCitation Tips

Cite EVERYTHINGCite EVERYTHING Except “common knowledge”Except “common knowledge”

But that can be slippery slope, so But that can be slippery slope, so cite when cite when in doubt. in doubt.

You can cite ANYTHINGYou can cite ANYTHING Books, articles, conference presentationsBooks, articles, conference presentations Websites, videos, photos, drawingsWebsites, videos, photos, drawings Your instructor or grandmotherYour instructor or grandmother

““personal communication”personal communication”

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Other ThoughtsOther Thoughts

Ask your instructorAsk your instructor What are the guidelines? Esp. citationsWhat are the guidelines? Esp. citations Will it be checked?Will it be checked?

Don’t write everything the night Don’t write everything the night beforebefore Strange things happen at 3AM….Strange things happen at 3AM….

Ask for an extensionAsk for an extension The grief for being accused of plagiarism The grief for being accused of plagiarism

is worse than for just a late assignment!is worse than for just a late assignment!04/22/23

References/ResourcesReferences/Resources

See list onSee list on http://tlt.its.psu.edu/plagiarism/links http://tlt.its.psu.edu/plagiarism/links/oth

erguides/instructorguides

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Questions?Questions?

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