Plagiarism: Is it Worth It? Dr. Pam Dennis

What is Plagiarism? Using another person’s idea, opinion, or theory without giving proper credit Employing any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings that are not common knowledge without giving proper credit Quoting another person’s actual spoken or written words without giving proper credit Paraphrasing another person’s spoken or written words without giving proper credit

Is Plagiarism Wrong? Brian Hansen, “Combating Plagiarism,” CQ Researcher 13 (September 19, 2003), 776.

Consequences? Revision of paper for lower grade Failing grade Failing course Suspension Degree revocation Firing Law suit Imprisonment (China and South Korea)

However, Nearly 80% of college students admit they have cheated 36% of undergraduates admit to plagiarizing 97.5% of high school students let others copy their work (only 58.3% in 1969) 54% of students copy from the Internet www.plagiarism.org/plagiarism_stats.html

Reasons Students Plagiarize Misunderstanding of proper citation Belief that writing skills are inadequate Desire for high grades and competition for jobs Belief that everyone else is doing it Poor time management and planning skills Thrill of cheating and not getting caught

Can We Trust Anyone? “Famous” Plagiarists Beatle George Harrison (1971) Mike Barnicle – Boston Globe (1998) Stephen Glass – The New Republic (1998) Stephen Ambrose and Doris Kearns Goodwin – authors (2002) Report by British government related to weapons of mass destruction (2003) Jayson Blair, New York Times (2003) Lawrence H. Tribe – Harvard law prof. (2004) And it continues . . .

Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism Put in quotations everything that comes directly from the text, especially when taking notes. Paraphrase, but be sure that you are not just rearranging or replacing a few words. Check your paraphrase against the original text to be sure you have not accidentally used the same phrases or words, and that the information is accurate.

What is Common Knowledge Facts that can be found in numerous places and are likely to be known by a lot of people. Example: John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States in 1960. No need for citation. Example: According to a recent biography on John F. Kennedy, he was considered the greatest President to have ever served (Author, date). This is an opinion by the author and not a fact, so it must be cited (APA style).

Direct Quote Must include quote marks or be inset and must include a citation “While course-related library instruction is still widely practiced, librarians are moving away from talking about information sources as ends in themselves, and towards an information literacy, problem based approach to information gathering where sources have a secondary role” (Bopp & Smith, 1995, p. 13). OR While course-related library instruction is still widely practiced, librarians are moving away from talking about information sources as ends in themselves, and towards an information literacy, problem based approach to information gathering where sources have a secondary role (Bopp & Smith, 1995, p. 13).

Unacceptable Paraphrase While course-related library teaching is still commonly practiced, librarians are moving away from speaking about information sources as ends, and towards . . . Original “While course-related library instruction is still widely practiced, librarians are moving away from talking about information sources as ends in themselves, and towards an information literacy, problem based approach to information gathering where sources have a secondary role” (Bopp & Smith, 1995, p. 13).

Why Unacceptable Writer changed only a few words and phrases or changed the order of the original sentences. Writer failed to cite a source for any of the ideas or facts.

Acceptable Paraphrase Though librarians still use course-related library instruction, there is now a move toward an “information literacy, problem based approach” with sources assuming a secondary role (Bopp & Smith, 1995, p. 13). Original “While course-related library instruction is still widely practiced, librarians are moving away from talking about information sources as ends in themselves, and towards an information literacy, problem based approach to information gathering where sources have a secondary role” (Bopp & Smith, 1995, p. 13).

Why Acceptable Records information in the original accurately. Gives credit for ideas in the passage. Indicates which parts were taken directly from the source by putting the passage in quotation marks and citing the page number.

Using the Internet as a Source The same rules apply for using information from the Internet in a paper. Text as well as images copied or paraphrased should include a citation. Example: library newsletter – http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/val/clip/index.html

Bopp, R. E., & Smith, L. C. (1995). Reference and APA style – “While course-related library instruction is still widely practiced, librarians are moving away from talking about information sources as ends in themselves, and towards an information literacy, problem based approach to information gathering where sources have a secondary role” (Bopp & Smith, 1995, p. 13). References – Bopp, R. E., & Smith, L. C. (1995). Reference and information services: An introduction. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Turabian/Chicago style – “While course-related library instruction is still widely practiced, librarians are moving away from talking about information sources as ends in themselves, and towards an information literacy, problem based approach to information gathering where sources have a secondary role.”1 1Richard E. Bopp and Linda C. Smith, Reference and Information Services: An Introduction (Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1995), 13. Bibliography - Bopp, Richard E., and Linda C. Smith. Reference and Information Services: An Introduction. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1995.

Bopp, Richard E., and Linda C. Smith. Reference MLA style – “While course-related library instruction is still widely practiced, librarians are moving away from talking about information sources as ends in themselves, and towards an information literacy, problem based approach to information gathering where sources have a secondary role” (Bopp and Smith 13). Works Cited – Bopp, Richard E., and Linda C. Smith. Reference and Information Services: An Introduction. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1995. Print.

Resources in the Library Go to library’s website – www.memphis.edu/libraries Use Catalog Classic Use Databases Find Citation Help

Use Catalog Classic for physical items (books, DVDs, etc Use Catalog Classic for physical items (books, DVDs, etc.), Journal Titles if you know the specific journal you are looking for, Databases to search for journal/magazine articles, and Article Quicksearch if you want to see what the library has in various formats (not as comprehensive)

For Catalog Classic, search for books, CDs, DVDs, etc For Catalog Classic, search for books, CDs, DVDs, etc.,by Keyword, Author, Title, Subject, (Call) Number, or Advanced Search. You can also limit by Location (McWherter Library, Music Library, Jackson State Community College) or Language (Spanish, etc.) or date of publication.

Also notice Subject headings that link to other similar resources Once inside the record, click on Cite This for help with citation (APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian).

by subject or category (e.g., Education). For databases, type in the name of a database, select one of the more popular titles, or browse for one of the 300+ databases by subject or category (e.g., Education).

Some of the 32 Education databases

In databases, you can search by Keyword, Subject, Title, Author, etc In databases, you can search by Keyword, Subject, Title, Author, etc., and limit by year and type of document (if needed), and limit to scholarly (peer reviewed) documents only.

Results may be in full text (. pdf or Results may be in full text (.pdf or .html) or may only have an abstract. HTML documents will also allow you to listen, download to mp3, and translate. For those articles not in full text, click on “Check for full text in other databases” to take advantage of Article Linker, which will search other databases for the full text.

If the full text is found in another database, click on the Article link and go directly to the article. If the full text is not available, use the Libraries’ interlibrary loan department (form available online at https://illiad.lib.memphis.edu/illiad/logon.html) to order the item from another library.

into numerous languages. Other databases provide similar features. Once in an EBSCO database article, you can print, email, save to hard drive or flash drive, listen to the article or translate it into numerous languages. Other databases provide similar features.

For help examples, click on Help on the Libraries website and then Help Guides. Find subject guides within various disciplines that provide shortcuts to books, articles, databases, and websites. Also use Research and Documentation Online (by Diana Hacker and Barbara Fister) for help with citations.

Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism (in review) Put in quotations everything that comes directly from the text, especially when taking notes. Paraphrase, but be sure that you are not just rearranging or replacing a few words. Check your paraphrase against the original text to be sure you have not accidentally used the same phrases or words, and that the information is accurate.

Words of Wisdom Make sure you know what citation style to use. Consult the library’s web page for guidance or ask a librarian. If you have a question about your paper, ask your professor to look over it. Start early on your assignment so you are not tempted to cut corners. Pick a topic about which you can enjoy writing, and have fun learning about it.