Transcript Avoiding Plagiarism Using MLA Documentation Style

Avoiding Plagiarism:
MLA Documentation Style
Presented by the
University Writing Center
What is MLA documentation style?
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 What do you know about the MLA style of
documenting?
 Do you have any past experience with MLA
documentation? Perhaps other styles?
 If you do have previous experience with a
documentation style, did you find it helpful? Why or
why not?
MLA
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 MLA stands for Modern Language Association, a
group established to help spread scholarly findings
while discussing trends in academics. *
 So, how does this style pertain to you?
 Do you consider yourself an academic?
*Information taken from: http://www.mla.org/about
What is plagiarism?
 MTSU’s department of Judicial Affairs:
“the adoption or reproduction of ideas, words,
statements, images, or works of another person as
one’s own without proper acknowledgment.”
 Plagiarism--stealing another person’s work or ideas.
 What constitutes stealing another person’s ideas?
What are some examples?
Why do people plagiarize?
*Image from: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/72/157458385_6dc97e3414.jpg
So, how do I avoid plagiarizing?
There are three ways to incorporate research or sources
into your work:
1. Paraphrasing
2. Summarizing
3. Quoting
Are you familiar with these techniques?
Can you think of situations in which one of these options
would be better than the others?
Citing Sources
 ALWAYS CITE the original source!
 Include an in-text citation:
A little known fact, “ghosts are actually caused by
Chuck Norris killing people faster than death can
process them” (Spector 131).
Provide the full citation in the “Works Cited” page at
the end of your essay.
Paraphrasing and Summarizing
 If a source is wordy or unclear: paraphrase or summarize.
 Keep the intent of the original passage the same.
 You must use your own words and sentence structure!
 REMEMBER! Even though you have put the information in
your own words, you must cite the original source.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrase :
•
•
approximately the same length as the original passage
accurately reflects the author’s intent
Example:
“The average zombie ‘life span’—how long it is able to
function before completely rotting away—is estimated at
three to five years. As fantastic as this sounds—a human
corpse able to ward off the natural effects of decay—its
cause is rooted in basic biology” (Brooks 10).
Paraphrase:
Though it may sound like a good thing, a zombie can live up to
five years. The cause of this is biological, however, and not
supernatural (Brooks 10).
Summarizing
Summarizing:
condenses a large amount of information
• retains the author’s intent
Example:
•
“Zombies are migratory organisms, with no regard for territory or concept of
home. They will travel for miles and perhaps, given time, cross continents in
their search for food. Their hunting pattern is random. Ghouls will feed at
night and during the day. They will stumble through an area rather than
deliberately searching it. Certain zones or structures will not be singled out
as more likely to contain prey. For example, some have been known to search
farmhouses and other rural structures while others in the same group have
moved by without a glance” (Brooks 17).
Summary:
Zombies’ hunting patterns are unpredictable. They do not follow a schedule nor are
they loyal to any particular place. Furthermore, zombies are not organized or
methodical, so they will not necessarily search every building they encounter
(Brooks 17).
Read the following:
Original Source:
“Scholars and academics have many theories about the origins of the
literature of monsters. What is clear is that the monsters appear in all
cultures, they have been around since language first evolved, and they
represent humankind’s deepest and most disturbing fears.”
Paraphrase:
According to Jessica Page Morrell, it is unclear where monsters in
literature originated, although monsters have appeared in all cultures
since language evolved and represent humankind’s deepest and most
frightening fears.
Is this paraphrase effective? Is it plagiarized?
Read the following:
Original Source:
“Scholars and academics have many theories about the origins of the
literature of monsters. What is clear is that the monsters appear in all
cultures, they have been around since language first evolved, and they
represent humankind’s deepest and most disturbing fears.”
Paraphrase:
According to Jessica Page Morrell, it is unclear where monsters in
literature originated, although monsters have appeared in all cultures
since language evolved and represent people’s deepest and most
frightening fears (Morrell 245).
Quoting
Quote: The author’s exact words.

Enclose the phrase or sentence(s) in quotations marks:
“In today’s literary marketplace, graphic novels and comic books are
fueling the rise of anti-heroes as a type of main character” (Morrell 54).

You may also choose to use the author’s name in the flow of your
sentence:
According to Morrell, “Anti-heroes are not only a vital offshoot in
literature, reflecting humanity and social ills, these days, they are also
becoming more the norm than the exception” (54).
Brackets and Ellipses
 To make a change, add a comment, or explain, you may use
brackets.
 To omit words, you may use ellipses.
Example:
According to Morrell, “Anti-heroes [like Batman, the
Punisher, Dexter, or V] are not only a vital offshoot in
literature…, they are also becoming more the norm than the
exception” (54).
Leading In & Following Up
 Sources should be used to support your own points.


Strengthens argument
Keeps you focused
 Always lead into your quote.

Prepares readers
 Follow up the quote with an explanation.

How it supports your argument
Oreo Cookie
• Lead-in: cookie
• Support: filling
• Explanation: cookie
When surviving a zombie attack, one
might think that a supermarket would
provide an ideal safe haven. However,
according to Max Brooks, author of The
Zombie Survival Guide, “supermarkets
are…dangerous. Their huge glass
doors, even when locked and gated,
provide little protection. Basically, the
exterior of a supermarket is a giant
display window, meant to show the
fresh, delicious food within” (80).
Though the food supply a supermarket
has to offer might be tempting, one
might think twice before seeking
respite there.
Let’s Practice!
*image from: http://brainwagon.org/images/oreo.jpg
A quote that is
more than four
lines long should be
handled in the
following manner:
•Use a colon
•Do not use quotation
marks
•Indent 1” from the left
side
•The period comes
BEFORE the
parenthetical
Use quote strategies!
Block Quotes
Creating a Works Cited Page
 Each entry should correspond with an in-text citation.
 Contains information one would need to find the source.

Sample book citation:
Brooks, Max. The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete
Protection from the Living Dead. New York: Three
Rivers Press, 2003. Print
Sample Works Cited Page
Let’s Practice!
*image from: http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A1696/169615/300_169615.jpg
For additional help with MLA
documentation style…
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th Ed. New
York: MLA, 2009. Print.
Glenn, Cheryl, and Loretta Gray. The Hodges Harbrace
Handbook. 17th Ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2010. Print.
James E.
Walker
Or visit the
University Writing Center!
Library
Room 362
615-904-8237
[email protected]
*image from: http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2008-01/chuck-norris-split-rock.jpg