Understanding Plagiarism how to avoid literary theft

how we define plagiarism

Plagiarism is (1) using another writer's words or ideas without in-text citation and documentation, (2) using another writer's exact words without quotation marks, and (3) paraphrasing or summarizing someone else's ideas using language or sentence structures that are too close to the original.

HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM

Quoting Paraphrase Summary

QUOTING

1 WHEN QUOTING: Use quotation marks to indication which words come from an outside source Include an in-text citation to tell readers the source of your quote ”

ORIGINAL: There are few intellectual offenses more serious than plagiarism in academic and professional contexts. QUOTE: According to the Purdue OWL website, “There are few intellectual offenses more serious than plagiarism in academic and professional contexts” (Stolley and Brizee, 2012).

When you quote, you need to reproduce the source exactly.

SOURCE: Bachelor’s degree programs in biomedical engineering focus on engineering and biological sciences. Programs include laboratory-based courses in addition to classes in subjects such as fluid and solid mechanics, computer programming, circuit design, and biomaterials. Other required courses include in-depth training in biological sciences, including physiology. QUOTE: In order to be a biomedical engineer, a student can expect to take a variety of courses. The Occupational Outlook Handbook suggests classes “such as fluid and solid mechanics, computer programming, circuit design, and biomaterials” (11).

When you quote, you can omit unnecessary details using ellipses:...

SOURCE: Employers prefer applicants who have completed training in drafting, typically an associate’s degree from a technical institute or community college. Drafters who specialize in architecture may need a higher degree, such as a bachelor’s degree. Training differs somewhat within the drafting specialties, but the basics, such as mathematics, are similar. To prepare for this training, high school courses in mathematics, science, computer technology, design, computer graphics, and, where available, drafting, are useful. QUOTE: In order to be a drafter, one needs specialized training. According to the OOH, “Employers prefer applicants who have completed training in drafting, typically an associate’s degree.... Training differs somewhat within the drafting specialties, but the basics, such as mathematics, are similar” (49).

When you quote, you may change or add words as long as you do not change the meaning. Such changes should be placed in brackets: [ ]

SOURCE: Employers prefer applicants who have completed training in drafting, typically an associate’s degree from a technical institute or community college. Drafters who specialize in architecture may need a higher degree, such as a bachelor’s degree.. QUOTE: In order to be a drafter, one needs specialized training. According to the OOH, a drafting firm typically “[prefers] applicants who have completed training in drafting, typically an associate’s degree.... Training differs somewhat within the drafting specialties, but the basics, such as mathematics, are similar” (49).

PARAPHRASING

2 WHEN PARAPHRASING: Change both the words and the structure of the original sentence Put any of the source's original phrasing in quotation marks Include an in-text citation to tell readers the source of your paraphrase

ORIGINAL: There are few intellectual offenses more serious than plagiarism in academic and professional contexts. Paraphrase: According to the Purdue OWL website, when it comes to writing in the workplace or in an collegiate setting, plagiarism is one of the most egregious errors a student can make (Stolley and Brizee).

When you paraphrase, you restate information from a source, but you use your own words and your own sentence structure.

SOURCE: Audiologists should be able to effectively communicate diagnostic test results, and interpret and propose treatment in a manner easily understood by their clients and other professionals. They must be able to approach problems objectively and provide support to clients and their families. A client's progress may be slow, so patience, compassion and good listening skills are necessary. PARAPHRASE: As the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association explains, a prospective audiologist needs to have a variety of abilities; empathy, good communication skills, critical thinking skills, and the ability to lay aside personal bias are all necessary (13).

Some guidelines for paraphrasing Use your own words and sentence structure Put any of the source's original phrasing in quotation marks Indicate the source of your paraphrase

what NOT to do SOURCE: In the past, medical transcriptionists would listen to an entire dictation to produce a transcribed report. Today, many medical documents are prepared with the use of back-end speech recognition technology, in which specialized software automatically prepares an initial draft of a report. PLAGIARISM: With the use of technology, the job of the medical transcriptionist has changed. As the OOH explains, years ago, medical transcriptionists would hear an entire dictation to create a transcribed report; now the reports are made using back-end speech recognition technology (91).

SUMMARIZING

3 WHEN SUMMARIZING: Summarize the main ideas of a text using your own words and sentence structure. Put any of the source's original phrasing in quotation marks Include an in-text citation to tell readers the source of your summary

ORIGINAL: There are few intellectual offenses more serious than plagiarism in academic and professional contexts. Summary: According to the Purdue OWL website, plagiarism is one of the most egregious writing errors (Stolley and Brizee).

A summary states the main ideas found in a source concisely and in your own words.

SOURCE: They do basic tasks to maintain and improve forest quality, such as planting seedlings or removing diseased trees. To plant seedlings, they use digging and planting tools. To cut trees, they use handsaws or power saws. Some forest workers work on tree farms, where they plant, cultivate, and harvest many different kinds of trees. Their duties vary with the type of farm and may include planting seedlings, spraying to control weed growth and insects, and harvesting trees. Some forest and conservation workers work in forest nurseries, where they sort through tree seedlings, discarding those that don't meet standards. Others use hand tools or their hands to gather woodland products, such as decorative greens, tree cones, bark, moss, and other wild plant life. Some may tap trees to make syrup or chemicals. SUMMARY: Forest and conservation workers perform a variety of duties relating to the planting, cultivating, and maintaining of trees.

Some guidelines for summarizing Include only the main ideas; leave out the details Use your own words Indicate the source

TOP FIVE TYPES OF PLAGIARISM

Clone An act of submitting another’s work, word-for-word, as one’s own.

CTRL-C A written piece that contains significant portions of text from a single source without alterations.

The act of changing key words and phrases but retaining the essential content of the source in a paper. Find-Replace

An act of patchwriting from other sources and making the content fit together seamlessly. Remix

Patchwriting from multiple sources, made to fit together

The act of borrowing generously from one’s own previous work without citation; To self plagiarize Recycle

If you understand how to avoid plagiarism, you can help keep literary ownership safe