A How-To Guide on Research, Writing, and Avoiding Legal Trouble  In Your Own Words… A How-To Guide on Research, Writing, and Avoiding Legal Trouble 

Getting Ideas from the ‘Net Kid-Friendly Search Engines http://www.wdeptford.k12.nj.us/WDMS/home.htm Good Old Google Add “for kids” to your search Can I Trust This Site? Who created the site? A school, business, or well-known organization? Ask yourself: Is this information fact or opinion? Why not Wikipedia?

The Master Art of Paraphrasing Re-writing in your own words; not simply copying or changing a word here or there Find the MAIN IDEA and re-write in simpler words Give a few important details to support the main idea Leave out unnecessary information or ideas you do not understand! Plagiarism – claiming another’s work as your own (copying (6 or more words), ‘stealing’ an idea – not giving credit to the appropriate author)

The Gloucester County Times, July 30, 2008 Talk about New Jersey's fat cats. A 44-pound feline was found waddling around Saturday without a collar in Voorhees, and officials at the Camden County Animal Shelter hope she gets a nice and, hopefully, diet-friendly home! "She's built like a quarterback," said Deborah Wright, a shelter volunteer and current foster owner of the kitty. "I mean, how do you lose a 44-pound cat?!" Shelter officials are calling the porky cutie "Princess Chunk."  The largest tabby on record weighed 46 pounds, 15 ounces. That cat, who lived in Australia, died in the 1980s. The Guinness World Records has since dropped the category, fearing cat owners might harm their animals in an attempt to break the record. Princess Chunk's owner has until Saturday to reclaim her. After that, the weighty pet will be eligible for adoption. Wright plans to speak with a veterinarian to put Chunk on a diet. For now, Chunk's diet consists of dry and wet cat food. "I'm about to put a leash on her and walk her," said Wright. "She could pass for a dog!"

A humongous cat (44 pounds, to be exact A humongous cat (44 pounds, to be exact!) was found lost in South Jersey. Weighing only three pounds less than the largest cat EVER, “Princess Chunk” will be put up for adoption if her owner doesn’t claim her. Now It’s your turn! Go to www.google.com Search for Helen Keller + for kids 3rd link from top – “Helen Keller Kids Museum” http://www.afb.org/braillebug/helen_keller_bio.asp Open Microsoft Word and summarize the first two paragraphs in no more than 3 sentences

Can I EVER Cut & Paste? Yes, BUT… Only do so when absolutely necessary. When intentionally quoting someone’s exact words When there is no better way to phrase a particular thought When cutting and pasting, use quotations (“”) and give credit!!! Example: You won’t find a category for fattest cat in the Guinness Book of World Records because, as explained by the Gloucester County Times, “…cat owners might harm their animals in an attempt to break the record.”

Giving Credit Where It’s Due Websites Address of homepage www.whitehouse.com NOTE: Google, Ask Jeeves, etc. are search engines. This means they find websites that might have the information you are looking for. Do not write the search engines down. Books Last name, First name of author. Title. Publishing Company: City where published. Copyright date. Encyclopedia “Topic.” Name of Encyclopedia. Volume letter. Publishing Company: City where published. Copyright date.

A Quick Quiz!!! What is plagiarism? Claiming another’s work as your own If using Google, what 2 words should you always include in your search? “for kids” When is it okay to cut and paste? When quoting someone directly; when it is impossible to rephrase something What does it mean to “paraphrase” something? To search for the main idea and rewrite something in your own words How much did Princess Chunk weigh? A whopping 44 pounds!

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