How to Teach Children Not to Plagiarize Adapted from: children-not-plagiarize.html children-not-plagiarize.html

Definition for Plagiarism PLAGIARISM is taking another person’s words, ideas or statistics and passing them off as your own. The complete or partial translation of a text written by someone else also constitutes plagiarism if you do not acknowledge your source. Since we cannot always be original it is entirely acceptable to present another person’s ideas in your work. However, it must be done properly to avoid plagiarism.

Importance: Copying is dishonest, and is considered stealing. It is wrong. Plagiarism has severe consequences, such as suspension and expulsion. In college, plagiarism can lead to getting kicked out of a school and in the workplace can get a person fired.

Examples Your sentence should never contain more than three of the same words in a row as the original sentence. Of course, if the idea is something original, like "I believe babies really do come from storks, because storks are pink and so are babies," then you have to cite the idea, regardless of how you alter the wording.

Example When searching the internet for information and pictures for a report, you need to contact the publisher for permission to use the image unless it is categorized as fair use (refer to copyright lesson).

PRINCIPLES AND RULES When borrowing another person’s words, use quotation marks and include complete reference (author’s name, date, pages). Internet sources must also be acknowledged. When borrowing another person’s ideas, acknowledge their origin. Do not paraphrase another writer’s words and pass them off as your own.

TWO BASIC RULES: If you use someone else’s words, data, etc., use quotation marks and give a complete reference. If you borrow someone else’s ideas, give a complete reference.

Extra Examples Plagiarism Quiz Plagiarism Quiz - Do with the entire class. Whiteboards can be used.