Copyright & Plagiarism By Dr. Bowie

What is Copyrighted?  The Intellectual Property of others including: text graphics, music, & cinema  Anything with a copyright & also anything “published” in some form  Things that are not in the public domain  Copyright gives the owner/creator acknowledgment and often money for reproduction of their property

Fair Use  Use is for comment, criticism, scholarship, education & news reporting  Small amount & not the “heart”  Is published and is commercial  Use does not impact market or value  Use is not primarily commercial Try to get as many as possible

What is Plagiarism? “ Plagiarism refers to the unacknowledged borrowing of others’ writing.” (PWO)

What this means:  If the information, idea, or knowledge is not in your own head before doing the research CITE it! Citing means using an in-text citation method (like parenthesis in MLA) and a reference/works cited/ bibliography page with full source information at the end of the project

Different Uses: Still Cite!  If you use the exact wording: This is a quote so quote it  Less than 3-4 lines put quotes around it  More than 3-4 lines use block quote form Include in-text and reference information “From the time of the early Greeks, it has often been claimed that dolphins will save humans from drowning or from shark attacks...” (Marinebio.org)

Different Uses: Still Cite!  If you use the general ideas & info, but not the exact words This is paraphrasing.  MAKE SURE you use your own words, if not quote it  You may paraphrase and have some quotes in the paraphrase

Examples of Paraphrasing  Original: “Tursiops truncatus is a distinctly social species, usually traveling in groups of as many as a dozen, but they have been seen in aggregations of several hundred” (Marinebio.org).  Paraphrase: According to Marinebio.org, bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus) are social mammals and often travel in large groups.  Paraphrase with quotes: Bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus) are a “distinctly social species” and often travel in large groups (Marinebio.org).

Common Knowledge?  If at least 5 sources have the same information this is considered “common knowledge” and doesn’t need to be cited  However if you use the wording of one of the sources cite it  Some people will cite less well known common knowledge to show that it came from outside sources. This if good if: You didn’t know the info before You want more ethos You don’t think it will be common knowledge to your readers “Common Knowledge” is not consistent or the matter is up for debate

Reminder:  If it wasn’t in your head before the research, cite it!  If the information came from any outside source, cite it!  Citing information is more ethical (no stealing and lying), and gives credit to the original writers but it also gives your writing more ethos and makes your argument stronger.

When in Question: Cite it! (or ask me)

The End Maine Source: “Bottlenose Dolphin.” Marine Biology. Marinebio.org. 2 Nov For more information on how to cite sources: handouts/research/