Academic Honesty: Plagiarism Primer A presentation developed by the Writing Center @

This module will help students: Determine if a student has plagiarized Understand how MSU, Mankato defines plagiarism Distinguish between types of plagiarism Use and cite sources properly Identify misused sources

According to MSU’s Policy on Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism: Submission of an academic assignment as one’s own work, which includes critical ideas or written narrative that are taken from another author without the proper citation. This applies both to direct quotes and to critical ideas paraphrased by the student. (cont. on next slide)

Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: submitting the work of others as your own; submitting others’ work as your own with only minor changes; submitting others’ work as your own without adequate footnotes, quotations, and other reference forms; or multiple submission of the same work, written or oral, for more than one course without both instructor’s permission, or making minor revisions on work which has received credit and submitting it again as new work.

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It’s important to know what to cite and how to cite! And these It’s important to know what to cite and how to cite!

Plagiarism has occurred when students: Hand in a paper that they did not write Make it seem that borrowed ideas are original Only make small changes to the languages of the original Do not cite sources at all or cite improperly Self-plagiarize

To avoid plagiarism: Identify quotes accurately Make sure paraphrases are not too similar to the original Follow the citation guide closely (APA, MLA, etc.) Remember to cite paraphrases and summaries Introduce material from sources

Scenario 1: You discuss your ideas for a paper with a classmate writing on the same subject. Is this plagiarism? Yes No Depends

No. This discussion may not be wise and could potentially lead to collusion, but it is not plagiarism.

Scenario 2: You purchase a paper and hand it in as your own. Is this plagiarism? Yes No Depends

Yes. Outsourcing the writing of your essay is a clear cut case of intentional plagiarism.

Scenario 3: You cut and past phrases, sentences, or paragraphs from Internet sources into your paper. Is this plagiarism? Yes No Depends

Depends. It depends on whether the content is cited correctly.

Scenario 4: You use information from a source without citing the source in text or on the references page. Is this plagiarism? Yes No Depends

Depends. Common knowledge (dates, geographic areas, etc Depends. Common knowledge (dates, geographic areas, etc.) does not need to be cited.

Scenario 5: You ask someone to proofread a draft of a paper. Is this plagiarism? Yes No Depends

No. It is advisable to have another person look over your work.

Scenario 6: You turn in two different papers for two different courses based upon the same research. Is this plagiarism? Yes No Depends

No. It is acceptable to utilize quality research in multiple settings and writing situations.

Scenario 7: You include a few items which you didn’t really use on a bibliography. Is this plagiarism? Yes No Depends

Yes. Padding your bibliography violates ethical source usage and damages your credibility.

Scenario 8: You turn in the same paper for two different courses. Is this plagiarism? Yes No Depends

Depends. If you have permission from both instructors, you have not plagiarized.

Scenario 9: When paraphrasing, you only replace a few words from the original quote with synonyms. Is this plagiarism? Yes No Depends

Yes. Paraphrases should not follow the original wording and sentence structure too closely.

For more information: Visit the Writer’s Handbook Read this helpful handout Explore the Citation Project and its resources Attend your professors’ office hours to ask questions Speak with a consultant at the Writing Center