PlagiarismPlagiarism

Research Papers 2009-2010Research Papers 2009-2010Ms. EmiliMs. Emili

Have you ever…Have you ever… Copied and pasted Copied and pasted

text from a website text from a website without without quoting/citing the quoting/citing the author?author?

““Summarized” an Summarized” an author’s work by author’s work by changing a word or changing a word or twotwo

Definition:Definition: Plagiarism is: the unauthorized use Plagiarism is: the unauthorized use

or close imitation of the or close imitation of the language language andand thoughtsthoughts of another author and of another author and the representation of them the representation of them as one's as one's ownown original workoriginal work (dictionary.com) (dictionary.com)

Two types of plagiarismTwo types of plagiarism IntentionalIntentional

Copying a friend’s Copying a friend’s workwork

Cutting and pasting Cutting and pasting blocks of textblocks of text

Media “borrowing”Media “borrowing”

UnintentionalUnintentional Careless Careless

paraphrasingparaphrasing Poor documentationPoor documentation Quoting excessivelyQuoting excessively Failure to use your Failure to use your

own “voice”own “voice”

Excuses we’ve heardExcuses we’ve heard ““It’s ok if I don’t It’s ok if I don’t

get caught!”get caught!” ““Everyone does it!”Everyone does it!” ““I was too busy to I was too busy to

write that paper!”write that paper!” ““My teachers My teachers

expect too much!”expect too much!”

Just don’t do it: reasons whyJust don’t do it: reasons why Major Major

consequences consequences (grades)(grades) Easier to catch than Easier to catch than

you think! you think! What are you What are you

actually learning?actually learning? Unethical Unethical

Possible School Possible School Consequences:Consequences:

““0” on the 0” on the assignmentassignment

Parents notifiedParents notified Damaged Damaged

reputationreputation HS/college: possible HS/college: possible

suspension/expulsiosuspension/expulsionn

How do I avoid plagiarism?How do I avoid plagiarism?

Cite as you goCite as you go Careful note-takingCareful note-taking

QuotingQuoting ParaphrasingParaphrasing SummarizingSummarizing

Keeping track of your Keeping track of your sourcessources

Write down as much as you can Write down as much as you can BEFORE moving on to next sourceBEFORE moving on to next source Title, author, publication city and year, Title, author, publication city and year,

web address, etc.web address, etc. Set up a labeling system: A1, A2, B1, Set up a labeling system: A1, A2, B1,

B2B2

QuotingQuoting Quotations: exact words of an author, copied word Quotations: exact words of an author, copied word

for word. MUST be citedfor word. MUST be cited Use them when:Use them when:

Power of the author’s words to supportPower of the author’s words to support Highlight eloquent passagesHighlight eloquent passages Disagreeing with an argumentDisagreeing with an argument

DON’T quote when:DON’T quote when: You could easily restate in your own wordsYou could easily restate in your own words Be careful not to over-useBe careful not to over-use

ParaphrasingParaphrasing Rephrasing the words of an author, Rephrasing the words of an author,

putting his/her thoughts in your own putting his/her thoughts in your own wordswords

Rework the source’s words, phrases, Rework the source’s words, phrases, sentence structures with YOUR OWNsentence structures with YOUR OWN Changing one or two words is NOT Changing one or two words is NOT

paraphrasing!paraphrasing!

Paraphrase when…Paraphrase when… You could easily You could easily

restate information restate information in your own wordsin your own words

You want to avoid You want to avoid overusing overusing quotationsquotations

SummarizingSummarizing Putting an Putting an

author’s/several author’s/several authors’ ideas into authors’ ideas into your own wordsyour own words

Significantly Significantly shorter than the shorter than the original idea or original idea or quotationquotation

Summarize when…Summarize when… Establishing background information Establishing background information

or giving an overview of a topicor giving an overview of a topic

Giving the main ideas of one sourceGiving the main ideas of one source

As you take notes:As you take notes: Use quotation marks for Use quotation marks for

direct quotes or unique direct quotes or unique phrases and author’s phrases and author’s namename Mark quotes with a “Q”Mark quotes with a “Q”

Paraphrase with the Paraphrase with the author’s name author’s name Mark paraphrased segments Mark paraphrased segments

with a “P”with a “P” Include page numbers and Include page numbers and

source references so you source references so you can go back and checkcan go back and check

DO NOT…DO NOT… Copy text word for word (from a book or Copy text word for word (from a book or

copy and paste from online source)copy and paste from online source) Only change one or two words from Only change one or two words from

original textoriginal text Switch back and forth between sources Switch back and forth between sources

without indicating who the author/source without indicating who the author/source is is

NO!NO! You DO NOT have You DO NOT have

to cite:to cite: Facts that are Facts that are

widely knownwidely known ““common common

knowledge”knowledge”

Examples of Common Examples of Common KnowledgeKnowledge

There are 50 states in the U.S.There are 50 states in the U.S. There are 365 days in a yearThere are 365 days in a year The Titanic sunk after hitting an The Titanic sunk after hitting an

icebergiceberg John Adams was the second U.S. John Adams was the second U.S.

PresidentPresident

How can you tell?How can you tell? Majority of people know ORMajority of people know OR Can easily find out from many Can easily find out from many

sourcessources Easily “findable” in an encyclopedia, Easily “findable” in an encyclopedia,

almanac, state website, dictionary, almanac, state website, dictionary, etc.etc.

Remember:Remember: Your teacher knows Your teacher knows

your work!your work! Your teachers discuss Your teachers discuss

student work with each student work with each otherother

Your teacher checks Your teacher checks suspicious work against suspicious work against search engines and search engines and other student papersother student papers

We expect honesty We expect honesty from our studentsfrom our students

Web EvaluationWeb Evaluation

First things first…First things first… Evaluating info is an essential part of Evaluating info is an essential part of

researchresearch Just because a site “looks good”…Just because a site “looks good”… Differences between print and Differences between print and

Internet sourcesInternet sources Quality vs. quantityQuality vs. quantity

Not all info is “good” infoNot all info is “good” info

Print vs. online sourcesPrint vs. online sources Who is the author?Who is the author? Author’s qualifications?Author’s qualifications? Editing processEditing process CurrencyCurrency

5 Clues to help you…5 Clues to help you… Take the time to do a little detective Take the time to do a little detective

workwork Use the 5 Clues to help you decide Use the 5 Clues to help you decide

whether to accept or reject infowhether to accept or reject info

Clue #1: URLsClue #1: URLs .com.com .gov.gov .org.org .edu.edu .net, or ~ is a PERSONAL webpage.net, or ~ is a PERSONAL webpage

Angelfire, Geocities, blogsAngelfire, Geocities, blogs

Clue #2: AuthorClue #2: Author Who are they?Who are they? Who are they associated with? Bias?Who are they associated with? Bias? What are their CREDENTIALS?What are their CREDENTIALS? If you can’t answer these questions, If you can’t answer these questions,

DON’T USE THIS SOURCEDON’T USE THIS SOURCE Hint: check “About” page or Google Hint: check “About” page or Google

themthem

Clue #3: ContentClue #3: Content Does the information SEEM accurate Does the information SEEM accurate

(based on what you know)?(based on what you know)? Opinion or fact-based?Opinion or fact-based? Spelling or grammatical errors?Spelling or grammatical errors? Look and feel of the page/ads?Look and feel of the page/ads? HINT: does the information match HINT: does the information match

what you’ve found elsewhere? Verify!what you’ve found elsewhere? Verify!

Clue #4: CurrencyClue #4: Currency When was the page created?When was the page created? When was it last updated?When was it last updated? Do you need time-sensitive info? Do you need time-sensitive info? HINT: “Last updated” at bottom of HINT: “Last updated” at bottom of

pagepage

Clue #5: Links and SourcesClue #5: Links and Sources Are there links to other sites?Are there links to other sites? Did the author cite their sources?Did the author cite their sources? HINT: “more info” or “links”HINT: “more info” or “links”

A note on WikipediaA note on Wikipedia Who is the author?Who is the author?

No credentials needed- anyone can No credentials needed- anyone can create/update a pagecreate/update a page

When can I use Wikipedia???When can I use Wikipedia??? As a starting point, not a sourceAs a starting point, not a source To explore a topic before deciding on itTo explore a topic before deciding on it Use their “external links”: still need to Use their “external links”: still need to

evaluate!!evaluate!!