Plagiarism: What is it and why should I care? Research Papers Ms. Emili

Definition: Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, ideas, images, sounds or the creative expression of others as your own. Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, ideas, images, sounds or the creative expression of others as your own.

Have you… Copied, included, downloaded the words of others in your work without citing them? Copied, included, downloaded the words of others in your work without citing them? Have had help you wouldn’t want your teacher to know about? Have had help you wouldn’t want your teacher to know about?

Two types of plagiarism Intentional Intentional Copying a friend’s work Copying a friend’s work Cutting and pasting blocks of text Cutting and pasting blocks of text Media “borrowing” Media “borrowing” Web publishing without permission Web publishing without permission Unintentional Unintentional Careless paraphrasing Poor documentation Quoting excessively Failure to use your own “voice”

Excuses we’ve heard “It’s ok if I don’t get caught!” “It’s ok if I don’t get caught!” “Everyone does it!” “Everyone does it!” “I was too busy to write that paper!” “I was too busy to write that paper!” “My teachers expect too much!” “My teachers expect too much!”

Just don’t do: reasons why MAJOR CONSEQUENCES MAJOR CONSEQUENCES What are you actually learning? What are you actually learning? If you were an author… If you were an author… Gives you authority Gives you authority Unethical Unethical

Possible School Consequences: “0” on the assignment “0” on the assignment Parents notified Parents notified Suspension or dismissal (activities, school) Suspension or dismissal (activities, school) Damaged reputation Damaged reputation

Is this important? What if… What if… An architect An architect A lawyer A lawyer An accountant An accountant

NO! You DO NOT have to cite: You DO NOT have to cite: Facts that are widely known Facts that are widely known “common knowledge” “common knowledge”

Examples of Common Knowledge There are 4 seasons in a year There are 4 seasons in a year There are 365 days in a year There are 365 days in a year The U.S. entered WWII after bombing of Pearl Harbor The U.S. entered WWII after bombing of Pearl Harbor John Adams was our second president John Adams was our second president

How can you tell? Majority of people know OR Majority of people know OR Can easily find out from many sources Can easily find out from many sources Easily “findable” in an encyclopedia, almanac, state website, dictionary, etc. Easily “findable” in an encyclopedia, almanac, state website, dictionary, etc.

No need to document when: You are discussing your own experiences, observations, or reactions You are discussing your own experiences, observations, or reactions Compiling the results of original research, from science experiments, etc. Compiling the results of original research, from science experiments, etc.

How do I avoid plagiarism? Careful note-taking Careful note-taking Quoting Quoting Paraphrasing Paraphrasing Summarizing Summarizing Cite as you go Cite as you go

Quoting Quotations: exact words of an author, copied word for word. MUST be cited Quotations: exact words of an author, copied word for word. MUST be cited Use them when: Use them when: Power of the author’s words to support Power of the author’s words to support Disagreeing with an argument Disagreeing with an argument Important research that precedes your own Important research that precedes your own Highlight eloquent passages Highlight eloquent passages

Paraphrasing Rephrasing the words of an author, putting his/her thoughts in your own words Rephrasing the words of an author, putting his/her thoughts in your own words Rework the source’s ideas, words, phrases, sentence structures with YOUR OWN Rework the source’s ideas, words, phrases, sentence structures with YOUR OWN MUST be followed with in-text documentation and cited in Works Cited MUST be followed with in-text documentation and cited in Works Cited

Paraphrase when… You plan to use the info on your note cards You plan to use the info on your note cards You want to avoid overusing quotations You want to avoid overusing quotations You want to use your own voice to present the information You want to use your own voice to present the information

Summarizing Putting an author’s/several authors’ ideas into your own words Putting an author’s/several authors’ ideas into your own words Significantly shorter than the original idea or quotation Significantly shorter than the original idea or quotation

Summarize when… Establishing background information or giving an overview of a topic Establishing background information or giving an overview of a topic Giving the main ideas of one source Giving the main ideas of one source

As you take notes: Include page numbers and source references so you can go back and check Include page numbers and source references so you can go back and check Use quotation marks for direct quotes or unique phrases and author’s name Use quotation marks for direct quotes or unique phrases and author’s name Mark quotes with a “Q” Mark quotes with a “Q” Paraphrase with the author’s name Paraphrase with the author’s name Mark paraphrased segments with a “P” Mark paraphrased segments with a “P”

In-text MLA documentation Purpose: immediate source information Purpose: immediate source information Inaccurate documentation is as serious as having no documentation Inaccurate documentation is as serious as having no documentation Brief information should match full source info in Works Cited Brief information should match full source info in Works Cited

Document in-text when: You use an original idea from one of your sources (quoted OR paraphrased) You use an original idea from one of your sources (quoted OR paraphrased) You summarize original ideas You summarize original ideas You use factual information that’s not common knowledge You use factual information that’s not common knowledge You quote directly from a source You quote directly from a source You use a date or fact that might be disputed You use a date or fact that might be disputed

Remember: Your teacher knows your work! Your teacher knows your work! Your teachers discuss student work with each other Your teachers discuss student work with each other Your teacher checks suspicious work against search engines and other student papers Your teacher checks suspicious work against search engines and other student papers We expect honesty from our students We expect honesty from our students