1. Avoiding Plagiarism When Using Evidence
8th Grade English Language Arts

2. Stealing Ideas?!
If someone takes something from a store without paying for it, it is stealing. But what if someone takes someone else’s ideas? Is that also stealing?
Consider the following questions (click on each question to see the correct answer):
Can an idea be stolen?
Should ideas be shared?
If others’ ideas are used, when do you have to give them credit?

3. YES!
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4. EVERY TIME you use their words OR ideas!
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5. Important Words To Know
Paraphrase
Summarize
Direct Quote
Parenthetical Citation
MLA
Plagiarism
Click here to learn the definitions to these words

6. Now You Try! Practice Handout Question 1
What are the reasons to cite a text in order to avoid plagiarism? Write your answers on your practice handout before moving on.
when paraphrasing information from a source
when writing well-known facts
when quoting directly from a source
when summarizing information from a source
when writing your own ideas
when using someone else’s words or ideas
Click anywhere on the screen to see the correct answers.

7. Click here to test your knowledge
Checkpoint 1
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8. Identifying Important Details
The next step to using research is correctly identifying important details in a text. Important details support the main idea or the point that you are making. In other words, everything should be related.

9. Identifying Important Details
Pretend you are packing for a trip to the beach. The “beach” is your main idea. Which of the following items (supporting details) would you include?
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Snowboard
Hiking Boots
Bathing Suit
Towel

10. Let’s Practice! Read each main idea and click on the two correct supporting details.
Dogs make good pets.
Dogs are loyal companions.
Dogs like to chew on bones.  
Dogs protect their homes and their owners.
Click here to go on

11. Dogs make good pets.
Both “dogs are loyal companions” and “dogs protect their homes and their owners” are good supporting details because they are specific factors that make dogs good pets. The fact that “dogs like to chew on bones” is not a good supporting detail because it is irrelevant to whether or not a dog makes a good pet.

12. Let’s Practice! Read each main idea and click on the correct supporting details.
Giant pandas are skilled at climbing trees.
Giant panda babies stay with their mothers for about 18 months after they are born.
Giant pandas can take refuge in tall trees to avoid predators like brown bears or leopards.
The paws of giant pandas are broad with long retractile claws which help it grip when climbing.
Click here to go on

13. Giant pandas are skilled at climbing trees.
The length of time that panda babies stay with their mothers may or may not impact how well they can climb trees, so it is not clear if this is a good supporting detail; however, the fact that pandas have strong claws adapted to climbing and the fact that they often avoid predators by taking refuge in tall trees both clearly connect to the idea that pandas are skilled tree climbers.

14. Now You Try! Practice Handout Question 2 Read the following excerpt from the article, “Benjamin Franklin: Scientist and Inventor.”
While Benjamin Franklin is known as a statesman and diplomat, he was also an accomplished inventor and scientist. Franklin was mainly a printer by profession, but he also investigated natural phenomena, such as ocean currents and lightning. His marine research led to his publication of a map of the Gulf Stream currents. Franklin developed theories about electricity, made famous by his experiment with a kite and a key during a lightning storm. As a result of his work with electricity, Franklin invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning strikes. Always curious and imaginative, Franklin also invented the bifocal glasses, the Franklin stove, an odometer for carriages and a musical instrument called a glass armonica. He investigated evaporation as a cooling technique and designed nautical enhancements, including watertight compartments.

15. Now You Try! Practice Handout Question 2
You are writing about Ben Franklin being an important inventor and scientist. What are the two best supporting details for this main idea?
Write your answers on your practice handout before
clicking on the screen to check your work.
Franklin was mainly a printer by profession.
Franklin also invented the bifocal glasses.
Franklin developed theories about electricity.
Franklin is known as a statesman and diplomat.
Click anywhere on the screen to see the correct answers.

16. Introducing Evidence with Lead-ins
When using research in your writing, it is important to let the reader know when you are using someone else’s words or ideas. You do this by adding a lead-in phrase before the ideas or words you are using. Lead-ins introduce quotes, much like an MC introduces the next performer.

17. Introducing Evidence with Lead-ins
Supporting Details from the Text
Supporting Details with Lead-ins
“Franklin developed theories about electricity, made famous by his experiment with a kite and a key during a lightning storm.”
The author states, “Franklin developed theories about electricity, made famous by his experiment with a kite and a key during a lightning storm.”
“Always curious and imaginative, Franklin also invented the bifocal glasses, the Franklin stove, an odometer for carriages and a musical instrument called a glass armonica.”
According to the article, “Franklin also invented the bifocal glasses, the Franklin stove, an odometer for carriages and a musical instrument called a glass armonica.”

18. Now You Try! Practice Handout Question 3
For each of the following supporting details from the text, add an appropriate lead in. Write your answers on your practice handout before moving on.
________________, “Franklin invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning strikes.”
________________, Ben Franklin is remembered as more than a great printer, he was also a scientist, inventor, and accomplished diplomat.

19. You should have filled in the blanks with evidence-based terms
You should have filled in the blanks with evidence-based terms. Your answers should look like this:
As the text states, “Franklin invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning strikes.” According to the article, Ben Franklin is remembered as more than a great printer, he was also a scientist, inventor, and accomplished diplomat.

20. Remember that PARAPHRASING means to put the original text into your own words. What is the best example of paraphrased text for the supporting detail from the article about Ben Franklin? (notice how each example includes a lead-in!)
Supporting Detail from the Text
Paraphrasing (in my own words)
“Franklin developed theories about electricity, made famous by his experiment with a kite and a key during a lightning storm.”
Option 1: According to the article, Franklin developed ideas about electricity after experimenting with a kite and a key in a lightning storm.
Option 2: According to the article, after famously flying a kite in a lightning storm, Franklin discovered many things about electricity.

21. PARAPHRASING
If you chose Option 2, you get a thumbs up! Option 1 is incorrect because the words and the sentence structure are too close to the original. Option 2 is correct because even though it is different, it maintains the original meaning.

22. Now You Try! Practice Handout Question 4 Paraphrase the supporting detail from the article about Benjamin Franklin. Don’t forget to add a lead-in! Write your answer on your practice handout before moving on.
Supporting Detail from the Text
Paraphrasing (in my own words)
“Always curious and imaginative, Franklin also invented the bifocal glasses, the Franklin stove, an odometer for carriages and a musical instrument called a glass armonica.”
____________________________________

23. Your answer should look something like this.
Supporting Details from the Text
Paraphrasing (in my own words)
“Always curious and imaginative, Franklin also invented the bifocal glasses, the Franklin stove, an odometer for carriages and a musical instrument called a glass armonica.”
In the text the author explains that Ben Franklin designed many useful items, like bifocals, an odometer, and the Franklin stove.
This is a good example of paraphrased text because while the author uses parts of the original text, the paraphrased sentence is different. You can re-use words that cannot be said any other way, but the rest of the word choice and order should be new.

24. MLA Formatting
MLA formatting rules provide a guideline for writers. There are three important things to remember when formatting important details from a text:
Put quotation marks around text that is copied word for word
Put commas after lead-ins before direct quotes
Include source information (the author’s last name, or if the author is unknown, a shortened version of the source’s title) in a parenthetical citation after text that is paraphrased, summarized, or quoted; put the period AFTER the parenthetical citation

25. Example
According to the article, “Franklin also invented the bifocal glasses, the Franklin stove, an odometer for carriages and a musical instrument called a glass armonica” (“Benjamin Franklin”).
Comma
Quotation Marks
Period
Normally the author’s last name goes here, but since there is not an author, the title goes inside the parentheses instead.
Quotation Marks

26. Now You Try! Practice Handout Question 5 Which of the following sentences is formatted correctly? Write your answer on the practice handout before clicking on the screen.
A. According to the text Franklin invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning strikes (“Benjamin Franklin). B. According to the text, Franklin invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning strikes. (“Benjamin Franklin”) C. According to the text, “Franklin invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning strikes” (“Benjamin Franklin”). D. According to the text “Franklin invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning strikes” (“Benjamin Franklin”).
Click anywhere on the screen to see the correct answer.

27. C. According to the text, “Franklin invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning strikes” (“Benjamin Franklin”).
This is CORRECT because the information included is a direct quote, so it needs to have quotation marks around it. Additionally, the lead-in before the quote has a comma after it, and the period is at the end of the sentence after the parenthetical citation. Finally, since the author is unknown, the title of the article is included in quotes inside the parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence.

28. Now You Try! Practice Handout Question 6 Fill in the blank on your practice handout by incorporating the quote from the article. Format correctly with MLA!
Ben Franklin wore many hats. __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________
Quote: “While Benjamin Franklin is known as a statesman and diplomat, he was also an accomplished inventor and scientist.” Article: “Benjamin Franklin: Scientists and Inventor”

29. Your answer should look something like this:
Ben Franklin wore many hats. According the article, “while Benjamin Franklin is known as a statesman and diplomat, he was also an accomplished inventor and scientist” (“Benjamin Franklin: Scientist and Inventor”).
Check your work!
Do you have a lead in?
Do you have a comma after your lead in and before your quote?
Do you put quote marks around the direct quote?
Since the author is unknown, do you have the title of the article in parenthesis?
Do you have a period at the end, after the parenthesis?

30. Now You Try! Practice Handout Question 7 Fill in the blank on your practice handout by paraphrasing the quote from the article. Format correctly with MLA!
Ben Franklin wore many hats. __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________
Quote: “While Benjamin Franklin is known as a statesman and diplomat, he was also an accomplished inventor and scientist.” Article: “Benjamin Franklin: Scientists and Inventor”

31. Your answer should look something like this:
Ben Franklin wore many hats. According the article, Ben Franklin was much more than a statesman and a diplomat. He is probably best remembered for those roles, but he also succeeded as an inventor and scientist (“Benjamin Franklin: Scientist and Inventor”).
Check your work!
Do you have a lead in?
Do you have a comma after your lead in and before your paraphrased material?
Did you change the words and structure of the original text without changing its meaning?
Since the author is unknown, do you have the title of the article in parenthesis?
Do you have a period at the end, after the parenthesis?

32. Now it’s time to show what you know!
Click here to read an article about dinosaurs. As you read, look for details that support the following claim: birds and dinosaurs are genetically connected.
After you read the article, click here to take an online assessment.
Click here to view the rubric.

33. RUBRIC Good: 3 Points Fair: 2 Points Poor: 1 point Supporting Details
Good: 3 Points
Fair: 2 Points
Poor: 1 point
Supporting Details
Student identifies a minimum of two important details that best support their own ideas
Student identifies one supporting detail that best supports their own ideas
Student does not identify any supporting details from the text
Evidence-based Terms
Student accurately uses evidence-based terms (lead-ins) to introduce all important details from text
Student uses at least one evidence based term (lead-in) to introduce important details from text
Student does not use evidence based terms (lead-ins) to introduce important details from a text
Paraphrasing
Student accurately and effectively paraphrases at least one important detail from text.
Student attempts to paraphrase an important detail from text, but either the sentence structure or word choice is too similar
Student does not paraphrase an important detail, or the attempt to paraphrase (word choice and/or sentence structure) is too similar
Direct Quote
Student accurately incorporates a direct quote from the text.
Student attempts to incorporate a direct quote but does not copy text word for word.
Student does not incorporate a direct quote from the text.
MLA Formatting
Student correctly applies the rules of MLA formatting.
Student applies the rules of MLA formatting with only 1-2 errors.
Student does not follow MLA formatting or has more than 2 formatting errors.
Total
RUBRIC

34. CORRECT!
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35. INCORRECT
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36. CORRECT!
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37. INCORRECT
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