Plagiarism: Are you breaking the law? VVJH Library Ms. L. Gomez

Is someone stealing your work? Are you stealing theirs? With the ease of cutting and pasting at your fingertips, there are many questions about the acceptability of using information gathered in online research for projects and papers in school.  Student is copying straight from a book.

What is plagiarism? Plagiarism is passing off someone else’s ideas, words, or images as though they were your own.  It applies equally to the work of other students as to published and online sources.  How can I avoid plagiarism? 1. Never copy directly 2. Never print directly 3. Never copy from other students Paraphrasing 1. Using your own words is acceptable 2.  Always give credit to the source Use Common Knowledge 1.  Facts that are known to many people and sources (George Washington was the first president.  The World Trade Center towers were attacked on September 11, 2001.) 2.  Common knowledge does not have to be cited

Why cite online sources? 1.  To find the source again and check the information 2.  To acknowledge your sources for ethical reasons How to cite web pages 1.  Author’s last name, first name (if available) 2.  *Web page title—in quotes 3.  *Date Retrieved: Day, Month, Year 4.  Main Page Title (If Available) 5.  *URL:  Web Site Address 6.  Date Published or Revised:  Day, Month, Year (If Available)  *Required Field EXAMPLE: Arnold, Greg. "How to Make Vegetarian Chili." 24 Sept. 2011. eHow. http://ehow.com. 12 Oct. 2005.

Penalties for Plagiarism Read the following paragraph taken from “School Cheating Scandal Tests a Town's Values” By JODI WILGOREN Published: February 14, 2002 in THE NEW YORK TIMES. It began in December with a teacher's finding that 28 of 118 Piper High sophomores had stolen sections of their botany project off the Internet. The students received zeroes and faced failing the semester. But after parents complained to the school board, the teacher, Christine Pelton, was ordered to raise the grades, prompting her resignation. Now, the community is angrily pointing fingers as they debate right and wrong, crimes and consequences, citizenship and democracy. What do you think? Plagiarism is dishonest, unethical, and illegal! Consequences 1. Prosecution 2. Usually means no credit for your work 3. In college—could mean expulsion 4. In public schools—could mean expulsion as well

Quiz: Answer the following questions I can avoid plagiarism by ________________________________________. never copying directly from the source sometimes copying from the website T or F Common knowledge means that it is a fact that many people know. T or F You ALWAYS cite or give credit to common knowledge. What is the name of the teacher who noticed that her students had plagiarize their work? T or F If you get caught plagiarizing work in college, you can be expulsed. Give your quiz to your teacher or librarian when finished!

Credits: Bucci. Plagiarism Web Quest: How Cite Online Sources. 13 Oct. 2011. http://www.bucciteacher.com/IS/plagiarism/plagiarism.htm.