What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarize\ ‘pla-je-riz To steal and pass off the ideas or words of another as one’s own To use a created production without crediting the source To commit literary theft: present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source From Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary 9 th ed, (Springfield,Ma:Merriam P.870)

This includes: Copying and pasting text from on-line web sites or encyclopedias Copying text from any printed material such as books, magazines, encyclopedias, or newspapers Changing or modifying text ex: replacing a few words using a thesaurus  Using photographs, video or audio without permission or acknowledgement (spears) Plagiarism is using someone’s work without giving them credit.

Plagiarism is wrong because: It is lying. Your teacher has asked you to write something that shows you have understood the information of the course. Taking credit for someone else’s information is a lie. It is an insult to your fellow students who are doing their own work. It is stealing to use other people’s words and ideas and claim them as your own. (Babbie)

You must acknowledge and cite materials so your reader knows you are borrowing and knows how to look up the original materials.

Penalties for Plagiarism Penalties vary among schools and universities. They could include: Partial or full loss of credit Detention Verbal Warning Suspension (Spears)

In universities, penalties could include: Loss of credit (F) for the class without refund Loss of credit in all classes taken in the semester of plagiarism without refund Loss of extracurricular eligibility, including NCAA athletics Academic probation or permanent expulsion.(Spears)

How can students avoid plagiarism? You must give credit whenever you use: Another person’s idea, opinion, or theory Any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings that are not common knowledge Quotations of another person’s actual spoken or written words Paraphrase of another person’s spoken or written words. (Student Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and conduct: Indiana University)

Strategies to avoid Plagiarism Put quotation marks around everything that comes directly from the text Paraphrase, but be sure you are not just rearranging the words Do not copy directly from a book, newspaper, journal or any other printed source (Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University)

Quote, summarize or paraphrase You must give credit to the source by a citation (proof of authority) Use quotation marks around word for word quotes. Summarize by writing out the main points of someone else’s work in your own words. Paraphrase by putting someone’s work into your own words. You are only rephrasing it. (Spears)

Quotation Hamlet says in Act III of Shakespeare’s play, “To be or not to be, that is the question.” (CLC Writing Center)

Summary: find the main points Tension had been building between Great Britain and the American Colonies for more than 10 years before the Revolutionary War began. Starting in the mid-1760s, the British government passed a series of laws to increase its control over the colonies. Americans had grown used to a large measure of self- government. They strongly resisted the new laws, especially tax laws. Fierce debate developed over the British Parliament’s right to tax the colonies without their consent. The World Book Encyclopedia Summary The British government imposed new laws on the American Colonies in the 1760s. The colonists resisted the new laws, which were enacted without their consent. (Language Network)

Paraphrase: rephrasing into your own words Examples: Original: Contrary to popular belief, exercise has never been shown conclusively to prolong life. Poor paraphrase: Contrary to popular thinking, exercise has never been demonstrated conclusively to lengthen life. Good paraphrase: No one has ever proved that exercise lengthens life. (CLC Writing Center)

Creating Your Own Original Work Search for information from several sources If you don’t have much general knowledge about your topic, start with an encyclopedia Ask questions about your topic and build your outline.

Creating your own work….. Start with a thesis statement in your introduction A thesis sentence introduces your main idea and the purpose for writing the paper. The rest of your paper backs up your thesis with research.

Concluding Advice Learn to write in your own style. Don’t just copy, cut and paste Realize that your teacher is interested in finding out if you understand the material and can explain the topic Realize that understanding and learning is more than just repeating someone else’s words.

Quiz: Can you answer these questions? 1. What is plagiarism? 2. True or False: It is okay to type your paper directly from the pages of a book. 3. True or False: It is stealing to use other people’s words and ideas as your own. 4. How can students avoid plagiarism?

Bibliography Babbie, Earl. “Plagiarism.” CLC Writing Center. College of Lake County Language Network. McDougal Littell. Pgs Evanston, IL Spears, Michael. “Plagiarism Q & A”

Bibliography…… Van Bramer, S.E. Widener University Writing Tutorial Services. Indiana University. <