Transcript Plagiarism Tutorial

Using Sources in your Work:
A Tutorial on Avoiding Plagiarism
NOTE:
To move through this tutorial, use the mouse to click on the arrow at the bottom
right of your screen.
You know this…
don’t you?

Sure you do. Teachers have been
talking (and talking, and talking) about
plagiarism—and how you should avoid
it.

But, if it is so bad, why do students (and
adults) do it?
Why do students plagiarize?
Here are some excuses…
Why does it matter? My
(pick one of the following)
teacher/parent/guardian doesn’t
care if I do it.
The assignment was dumb/boring/too
hard/too easy/etc., so why should I put
my effort into it?
Why do students plagiarize?
Here are some excuses…
Why does it matter? My (pick
one of the following)
teacher/parent/guardian doesn’t
care if I do it.
I didn’t know
that I had to
cite my
sources.
I didn’t
understand the
assignment
and I needed
some help.
The assignment was dumb/boring/too
hard/too easy/etc., so why should I put
my effort into it?
Why do students plagiarize?
Here are some excuses…
Why does it matter? My (pick
one of the following)
teacher/parent/guardian doesn’t
care if I do it.
I had to. I
need to
have good
grades.
I didn’t know
that I had to
cite my
sources.
I didn’t
understand the
assignment
and I needed
some help.
The assignment was dumb/boring/too
hard/too easy/etc., so why should I put
my effort into it?
Why do students plagiarize?
Here are some excuses…
Why does it matter? My (pick
one of the following)
teacher/parent/guardian doesn’t
care if I do it.
I had to. I
need to
have good
grades.
I didn’t know
that I had to
cite my
sources.
I didn’t
understand the
assignment
and I needed
some help.
The assignment was dumb/boring/too
hard/too easy/etc., so why should I put
my effort into it?
Have you heard any
of those before?
But those excuses don’t cut it…
There is no acceptable excuse for
plagiarism.
Plagiarism is cheating
(and it will be treated as such if it is
found in your work).
Look at these real life examples…
Real Life Plagiarism Scandals
Doris Kearns
Goodwin, a Pulitzer
Prize winning
historian, was forced
to step down from the
Pulitzer board after
she was found to have
accidentally used
another’s words in one
of her books.
Hostetter, Janet. 6 Apr 2006. Associated Press
Images. 5 Aug 2008. <http://apimages.ap.org>
Kirpatrick, David D. “Author Goodwin Resigns from Pulitzer
Board.” New York Times. (1 June 2002.) 5 Aug. 2008.
<http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E7D71
43AF932A35755C0A9649C8B63>.
Real Life Plagiarism Scandals
After being accused of
rampant plagiarism in
her work, tenured
professor Madonna G.
Constantine was fired
from her position at
Columbia University.
Bondafeff, Dian. 10 Oct. 2007. Associated Press
Images. 5 Aug 2008. <http://apimages.ap.org>.
Santora, Marc. “Columbia Professor in Noose Case Is Fired on
Plagiarism Charges.” New York Times. (24 June 2008.) 5 Aug. 2008.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/nyregion/24columbia.html?scp=1&
sq=Madonna%20Constantine%20&st=cse>.
Real Life Plagiarism Scandals
As a reporter for the
New York Times,
Jayson Blair plagiarized
or fabricated in more
than 40 stories between
2002 and 2005. He
was fired from his job.
The top two editors of
the newspaper resigned
as a result of the
scandal.
“Correcting the Record.” New York Times. 11 May 2003. The New
Image: Szymaszek, Jennifer. 12 May 2004. Associated
York Times. 5 Aug 2008.
Press Images. 5 Aug 2008. <http:// apimages.ap.org>
<http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E1DB123FF93
2A25756C0A9659C8B63>
Real Life Plagiarism
Scandals
Blair Hornstein was the
valedictorian of her high
school class and had earned
admission to Harvard
University. After articles
Hornstein wrote for a local
newspaper were discovered
to have been plagiarized,
Harvard University rescinded
their acceptance.
“Blair Hornstein.” The Gothamist. 14 July 2003. 5 Aug. 2008.
<http://gothamist.com/2003/07/14/gothamist.php>.
Capuzzo, Jill P. “MOORESTOWN JOURNAL; Seeing Crimson.” New York
Times. (20 July 2003.) 5 Aug. 2008.
<http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E6D61E3CF933A157
54C0A9659C8B63&scp=4&sq=Blair%20Hornstein%20&st=cse>.
So, as you can see,
plagiarism is a serious offense.
This presentation is part of your
class work so that you know
what plagiarism is
and
how you can avoid it.
Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is:



To steal the words or ideas of another person
To pass off the words or ideas of another
person as one’s own
Further:

It doesn’t matter whether the theft is
intentional or accidental. Either way, it is
plagiarism.
Let’s look at some
hypothetical situations.
For each, determine if the student
plagiarized or did not.
Click on the arrow to move to the next page.
Jill’s Situation
During history class, Jill is asked to find
some background on Fidel Castro’s rise to
power.
Jill does a Google search and arrives at
Wikipedia’s article on Fidel Castro.
Without using quotation marks, Jill cuts
and pastes several sentences from
Wikipedia into her assignment.
Is this plagiarism?
Yes
No
You must choose from the blue
buttons at the bottom of the page.
Read the situation and then choose
one of the options presented.
Click here to
return to previous slide
You said…
Jill did plagiarize.
You are right. Jill’s actions constitute
plagiarism.


By taking the words from the Wikipedia
article, Jill is committing plagiarism.
She can avoid plagiarizing by quoting the
article in her assignment and including an
entry that describes the source in a
bibliography at the end of her paper.
You said…
Jill did not plagiarize.
You are wrong. Jill’s actions constitute
plagiarism.


By taking the words from the Wikipedia
article, Jill is committing plagiarism.
She can avoid plagiarizing by quoting the
article in her assignment and including an
entry that describes the source in a
bibliography at the end of her paper.
Gretel’s
Situation
Gretel
is a freshman
who feels overwhelmed
by the high school. When her science
teacher assigns a short worksheet on
genetics, Gretel is confused and
frustrated.
During lunch, Gretel “borrows” her friend’s
paper and copies the answers onto her
own paper.
Is this plagiarism?
Yes
No
You must choose from the blue
buttons at the bottom of the page.
Read the situation and then choose
one of the options presented.
Click here to
return to previous slide
You said…
Gretel did plagiarize.
You are right. Gretel’s actions constitute
plagiarism.


Even if Gretel’s friend gave permission for
Gretel to copy her work, it is still
plagiarism.
Gretel is guilty of plagiarism. She tried to
take credit for the words and ideas of
another person.
You said…
Gretel did not plagiarize.
You are wrong. Gretel’s actions constitute
plagiarism.


Even if Gretel’s friend gave permission for
Gretel to copy her work, it is still
plagiarism.
When a student attempts to take credit for
the words and ideas of another person
without acknowledging the original source
of the work
Think you’ve got it?
Read the following…
(and pay attention! There will be a quiz on this
information at the end!)
Definition
of
Plagiarism
 Plagiarism is:

To steal the words or ideas of another person

To pass off the words or ideas of another
person as one’s own

It doesn’t matter whether the theft is
intentional or accidental. Either way, it is
plagiarism.
How to Avoid Plagiarism

Cite the source of any idea or words
you take from anyone else.

Carefully mark the beginning and end of
the source’s words or idea.

Provide a bibliography to show where
the borrowed material originated.
OK, I get it…
there are penalties for
plagiarizing because it
is stealing someone
else’s words or ideas.
But,
if I am not caught,
I won’t be penalized.
So, what is the
benefit of citing
my sources?
Four good reasons for citing
sources in your work:

Citing reliable information gives credibility
to your work.

Cheating is unethical behavior.

It is only fair to give credit to the source—
otherwise, you are stealing the source’s
ideas.

The consequences are severe—plagiarism
is not worth the risk.
You probably have two questions:
(1) What do I need to cite?
(2) How do I cite?
Read on for the answers…
What do I need to cite?

This chart will
help you decide
what must be
cited.

Did you
think of
it?
Yes.
No.
Is it
It was created by
Robert A. Harris in common
The Plagiarism knowledge?
Handbook.
Yes.
No.
Cite it.
Do not cite it.
So—the rule is:
If you created it
without any help,
you do not need
to cite the source.
If you did not
create the
content, you must
cite the source.
Did you
think of
it?
Yes.
No.
Is it
common
knowledge?
Yes.
No.
Cite it.
Do not cite it.
The one exception to
that rule is for
“common knowledge.”
You do not need to
cite the source of an
unoriginal piece of
information IF:
(1) an educated
person should know
the information,
OR
(2) it is a fact that
could be found in an
encyclopedia.
Did you
think of
it?
Yes.
No.
Is it
common
knowledge?
Yes.
No.
Cite it.
Do not cite it.
So, you don’t need to cite a fact,
but you must cite the source of opinions
and ideas that are not your own.
And, you must cite anytime you use the exact
words of the source—even if the words are
presenting common knowledge.
So, you don’t need to cite a fact,
for example: Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.
OR
Harper Lee was born in 1926.
but you must cite the source of opinions
and ideas that are not your own.
for example: Dorothy Gale believes that Lord of the Flies is an inspiring story (75).
OR
According to Joe Smith, Piggy represents the human spirit (15).
And, you must cite anytime you use the exact
words of the source—even if the words are
presenting common knowledge.
You must always cite the source of ANY direct quotation.
Take one
more look
at this
chart!
If the idea and
the words are
yours, you do
not need to cite.
Did you
think of
it?
Yes.
No.
Is it
common
knowledge?
Yes.
No.
Cite it.
Do not cite it.
So, let’s check to see that you
understand when you need to cite
the source and when you don’t…
Answer the following questions and
choose the correct answer.
Test Case #1
Jack isn’t sure if he needs to cite the source of the information
below. He found the fact online.
“Abraham Lincoln was our 16th president.”
What do you think? What should Jack do? Pick one of the
answers below.
Cite the source.
This means he will:
(1) Either:
a) Surround with quotation marks, or
b) Put the quotation into his own words,
changing the syntax, structure,
& organization
(2) Include a lead-in giving the source’s name,
(3) Give the page number, and
(4) List the source in a bibliography
Do not cite the
source.
This means that the information is a
commonly reported fact. It is generally
known and available from many sources.
(1) Jack should verify the information in at
least two sources, then
(2) Jack will write the well-known
information in his own words.
You must choose one of the
buttons at the bottom of the page.
Read the situation and then choose
one of the options presented.
Click here to
return to previous slide
You are incorrect.
In this case,
citation is not necessary.


Jack does not need to cite the source or
quote the information because it is general
knowledge.
Abraham Lincoln’s status as the 16th
President of the US is a fact that is
verifiable in many places. Therefore, Jack
can use the information without citation.
You are correct!
Jack does not need to cite this
information.


Jack does not need to cite the source or
quote the information because it is general
knowledge.
Abraham Lincoln’s status as the 16th
President of the US is a fact that is
verifiable in many places. Therefore, Jack
can use the information without citation.
Test Case #2
In her paper on Affirmative Action, Jill found one source that explained that
Affirmative Action “evens the field of play by forcing equality among all
players.”
In her paper, Jill uses the phrase “forcing equality” but she puts all the other
parts of the source into her own words.
What should Jill do? Pick one of the answers below.
Cite the source.
Not cite the source.
This means she will:
(1) Either:
a) Surround with quotation marks, or
b) Put the quotation into her own words,
changing the syntax, structure,
& organization
This means that the information is generally
known and available from multiple sources.
(2) Include a lead-in giving the source’s name,
(2) Jill will write the well-known
information in his own words.
(3) Give the page number, and
(4) List the source in a bibliography
(1) Jill should verify the information in at
least two sources, then
(3) Jill should make a bibliographic citation
for use on her Works Consulted page.
You must choose one of the
buttons at the bottom of the page.
Read the situation and then choose
one of the options presented.
Click here to
return to previous slide
You are correct!
Jill must cite this information.


Jill needs to cite the source of the
paraphrase because the idea belongs to
the source.
Further, because Jill uses the unique
phrase “forcing equality,” she must include
that phrase in quotation marks, indicating
that it is a direct quotation from the source.
You are incorrect.
In this case, citation is necessary.


Jill needs to cite the source of the
paraphrase because the idea belongs to
the source.
Further, because Jill uses the unique
phrase “forcing equality,” she must include
that phrase in quotation marks, indicating
that it is a direct quotation from the source.
Test Case #3
Gretel found a very helpful article in an online database. She
very carefully made sure that she rewrote the content of the
article using her own personal style; she changed the author’s
syntax and organization so that it fit seamlessly into her paper.
What should Gretel do?
Cite the source.
Not cite the source.
This means she will:
(1) Either:
a) Surround with quotation marks, or
b) Put the quotation into his own words,
changing the syntax, structure,
& organization
This means that the information is generally
known and available from multiple sources.
(2) Include a lead-in giving the source’s name,
(2) Gretel will write the well-known
information in his own words.
(3) Give the page number, and
(4) List the source in a bibliography
(1) Gretel should verify the information in at
least two sources, then
(3) Gretel must include a bibliographic citation
on her Works Consulted page.
You must choose one of the
buttons at the bottom of the page.
Read the situation and then choose
one of the options presented.
Click here to
return to previous slide
You are correct.
In this case, citation is required.


Gretel paraphrases the source’s idea and
content. She must give credit to the
source.
She must provide her audience with the
source of the idea that she borrowed.
You are incorrect!
Gretel must cite the source of this
information, even though she put it
in her own words.


Gretel paraphrases the ideas of the
source, so she must cite the identity of the
source.
Gretel must provide her audience with the
source of the material that she borrowed.
So, you can identify what must
have a citation…
Now you need to know
how to use and cite a source!
How to Cite a Source


It’s easy. Just provide your audience with the
source of any ideas or words that are not your
own.

First, carefully mark the beginning and end of the
source’s words or idea.

Then, provide a bibliography to show where the
borrowed material originated.
In fact, listing your sources shows your audience
that you are an informed, well-researched writer!
How to Cite Direct Quotations

Provide a bibliographic entry to show where the
borrowed material originated.


Park, Beth L. Understanding William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.
Lebo University Press: Pittsburgh, PA, 2008.
Carefully mark the beginning and end of the source’s
words or idea.




Use a signal phrase to introduce the source.
Use quotation marks to surround the words of the source.
Provide the page number (or another citation) after the closing
quotation marks.
EXAMPLE:

According to literary critic Beth L. Parks, Piggy finds peace
through “his search for the height of his own potential” (24).
How to Cite Paraphrases

Provide a bibliographic entry to show where the borrowed material
originated.


Park, Beth L. Understanding William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Lebo
University Press: Pittsburgh, PA, 2008.
Carefully mark the beginning and end of the source’s material.


Use a signal phrase to introduce the source
Put the source’s original words into your own words:



It isn’t just about using synonyms to replace words.
You must change the syntax, sentence structure, & organization of the
original.
If you find yourself just changing a word here or there, ask yourself if a direct
quotation would work. If it would work, then use a direct quotation.

Provide the page number (or another citation) after the closing quotation
marks.

EXAMPLE:

According to literary critic Beth L. Parks, Piggy protects
his self-esteem by disciplining the other boys (24).
It can be said in a bunch of
different ways…
It can be said in a bunch of
different ways…
It can be said in a bunch of
different ways…
It can be said in a bunch of
different ways…
Enclose the
borrowed
It can be said in a bunch of
different ways…
Enclose the
borrowed
It can be said in a bunch of
different ways…
Enclose the
borrowed
It can be said in a bunch of
different ways…
But, they all mean the same thing…
Provide a clear indication
of any words or ideas
that are not your own.
Enclose the
borrowed
Can you identify plagiarism
when you see it?

Try the following four examples. On
each you will see the source material
and the student’s usage of that material.

Use the buttons at the bottom of the
screen to choose if the example shows
acceptable use or plagiarism.
Acceptable Use or
Plagiarism?
Example 1
Original text from the source:
Integrity must be sincere.
That’s one reason Lincoln
was so admired in his
lifetime. Through an
individual’s words, deeds,
and actions, integrity can be
judged to be genuine.
One reason that Lincoln was well-liked during
his lifetime was that his integrity was sincere.
A person’s statements and dealings with the
world allows that person to be judged as
honest.
Student’s Bibliography:
No references given.
Donald T. Phillips. Lincoln on
Leadership. (52)
CHOOSE ONE:
Acceptable Use
Plagiarism
You must choose one of the
buttons at the bottom of the page.
Read the situation and then choose
one of the options presented.
Click here to
return to previous slide
You said that the example showed
Acceptable Use
You are incorrect.

Use the arrow at the bottom of this
screen to return to the example.

Reread the example and see if you can
determine why it is plagiarism.
You said that the example showed
Plagiarism
You are correct!

The student put the author’s idea into
her own words; however, she did not
give credit to the source of the idea.
So, to review…

Plagiarism is a serious offense. Not only
does it carry heavy penalties, but your
integrity is damaged when you plagiarize.

Plagiarism is easily avoidable—just cite
the sources when you use the words or
ideas of another person.

If you have any questions, see your
teacher or school librarian!
Sources Consulted
DeSena, Laura Hennessey. Preventing Plagiarism:
Tips and Techniques. National Council of Teachers
of English: Urbana, IL, 2007.
Harris, Robert A. The Plagiarism Handbook: Strategies
for Preventing, Detecting, and Dealing with
Plagiarism. Pyrczak Publishing: Los Angeles, 2001.
Valenza, Joyce Kasman. “What is Plagiarism? (And
Why You Should Care).” Springfield High School
Media Center Information Literacy Lessons.
Springfield School District.
End of presentation.
If you have questions or suggestions,
please see your teacher or e-mail
[email protected]
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
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