What is Plagiarism?

(And why you should care!)

Borrowed and Adapted from the SBHS Plagiarism Committee

Definition

Plagiarism is the act of presenting the Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, ideas, images, sounds, or words, ideas, images, sounds, or creative expression of others as your creative expression of others as your own.own.

Two Types of Plagiarism

Intentional

Copying a friend’s workCopying a friend’s work

Buying or borrowing papersBuying or borrowing papers

Cutting and pasting blocks of text Cutting and pasting blocks of text from electronic sources without from electronic sources without documenting in a paper or on a documenting in a paper or on a posterposter

Media “borrowing” without Media “borrowing” without documentationdocumentation

Web publishing without permissions Web publishing without permissions of creatorsof creators

Mosaic plagiarismMosaic plagiarism

Using 3 or more words in the same Using 3 or more words in the same order/coined phrasesorder/coined phrases

Unintentional

Careless paraphrasingCareless paraphrasing

Poor MLA documentationPoor MLA documentation

Quoting excessivelyQuoting excessively

Improper use of quotation Improper use of quotation marksmarks

Plagiarism: A Real Issue

““A study of almost 4,500 students at 25 schools, A study of almost 4,500 students at 25 schools, suggests cheating is…a significant problem in high suggests cheating is…a significant problem in high school—74% of the respondents admitted to one school—74% of the respondents admitted to one or more instances of serious test cheating and or more instances of serious test cheating and 72% admitted to serious cheating on written 72% admitted to serious cheating on written assignments. Over half of the students assignments. Over half of the students admitted they have engaged in some level of admitted they have engaged in some level of plagiarism on written assignments using the plagiarism on written assignments using the internet.”internet.”

Based on the research of Donald L. McCabe, Rutgers UniversityBased on the research of Donald L. McCabe, Rutgers University

Source: “CIA Research.” Center for Academic Integrity. Duke University, 2003 Source: “CIA Research.” Center for Academic Integrity. Duke University, 2003 <http://academicintegrity.org/cai_research.asp><http://academicintegrity.org/cai_research.asp>

Is this important?

What if…What if…

The architect building your new house cheated his way The architect building your new house cheated his way through math. Will your new home be safe? through math. Will your new home be safe?

Your lawyer paid for a copy of the bar exam to study. Will Your lawyer paid for a copy of the bar exam to study. Will the contract she wrote you stand up in court?the contract she wrote you stand up in court?

The accountant who does your taxes hired someone to The accountant who does your taxes hired someone to write his papers and paid a stand-in to take his tests. Does write his papers and paid a stand-in to take his tests. Does he know enough to get you a refund?he know enough to get you a refund?

(Lathrop and Foss 87)(Lathrop and Foss 87)

School Consequences

Fail the paper/project without the opportunity Fail the paper/project without the opportunity to make it upto make it up

Suspended/removed from sports teams or Suspended/removed from sports teams or extracurricular activitiesextracurricular activities

Removed from grade level activitiesRemoved from grade level activities

Reported to collegesReported to colleges

Real Life Consequences

Damaged the reputation of two prominent Damaged the reputation of two prominent historians, Stephan Ambrose and Doris Kearns historians, Stephan Ambrose and Doris Kearns GoodwinGoodwin

New York Times New York Times senior reporter Jayson Blair forced senior reporter Jayson Blair forced to resign after being accused of plagiarism and to resign after being accused of plagiarism and fraudfraud

Remember, if you…

……have included the words and ideas of others in have included the words and ideas of others in your work that you neglected to citeyour work that you neglected to cite

……have had help you wouldn’t want your teacher to have had help you wouldn’t want your teacher to know aboutknow about

……have claimed someone else’s work as your ownhave claimed someone else’s work as your own

You Have Plagiarized!

Research Strategies

QuotingQuoting

SummarizingSummarizing

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

Quoting:

Use quotations when…Use quotations when…

You want to disagree with an author’s argumentYou want to disagree with an author’s argument

You want to highlight particularly eloquent or You want to highlight particularly eloquent or powerful phrases or passagespowerful phrases or passages

You are comparing and contrasting specific points You are comparing and contrasting specific points of viewof view

You want to note the important research that You want to note the important research that precedes your ownprecedes your own

the exact words of an author, copied directly from a source, word for word; quotations must ALWAYS be cited!

Summarizing:

Summarize when…Summarize when…

You want to establish background or offer an You want to establish background or offer an overview of a topicoverview of a topic

You want to describe knowledge (from several You want to describe knowledge (from several sources) about a topicsources) about a topic

You want to determine the main ideas of a You want to determine the main ideas of a single sourcesingle source

involves putting main ideas of one or several writers into your own words; significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the material; must cite!

Paraphrasing:

Paraphrase when…Paraphrase when…

You plan to use information on your note cards and You plan to use information on your note cards and wish to avoid plagiarizingwish to avoid plagiarizing

You want to avoid overusing quotationsYou want to avoid overusing quotations

You want to use your own voice to present the You want to use your own voice to present the informationinformation

You want to explain difficult concepts in more You want to explain difficult concepts in more simple termssimple terms

Rephrasing the words of an author, putting their words in your own; rework the source’s ideas, words, phrases, and sentences with your own; must cite!

The Rule of Thumb

If the information you are using is If the information you are using is not something commonly known, not something commonly known,

be sure to cite your source!be sure to cite your source!

It’s better to be safe than sorry!It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Why It’s Worth It…

When you copy, you cheat yourself and limit your own learningWhen you copy, you cheat yourself and limit your own learning

The consequences are not worth the risks!The consequences are not worth the risks!

It is only right to give credit to authors whose ideas you useIt is only right to give credit to authors whose ideas you use

Citing gives authority to the information you presentCiting gives authority to the information you present

Citing makes it possible for your readers to locate the original sourceCiting makes it possible for your readers to locate the original source

Education is not an “us vs. them” game! It’s about learning for the sake of Education is not an “us vs. them” game! It’s about learning for the sake of learninglearning

Cheating is unethical behavior…and you’re all better people than that!Cheating is unethical behavior…and you’re all better people than that!

Works Cited

““Boston Columnist Resigns Amid New Plagiarism Boston Columnist Resigns Amid New Plagiarism Charges.” Charges.” CNN.comCNN.com 19 Aug. 1998. 2 March 2003 19 Aug. 1998. 2 March 2003 <http://www.cnn.com/US/9808/19/barnicle/><http://www.cnn.com/US/9808/19/barnicle/>

Fain, Margaret. “Internet Paper Mills.” Kimbal Library. Fain, Margaret. “Internet Paper Mills.” Kimbal Library. 12 Feb. 2003 12 Feb. 2003 <http://www.costal.edu/library/mills2.htm><http://www.costal.edu/library/mills2.htm>

Lathrop, Ann and Kathleen Foss. Lathrop, Ann and Kathleen Foss. Student Cheating Student Cheating and Plagiarism in the Internet Eraand Plagiarism in the Internet Era. Englewood, CO. . Englewood, CO. Libraries Unlimited, 2003.Libraries Unlimited, 2003.