Avoiding Plagiarism

When To Document:Whenever you use information, facts, statistics, opinions,

hypotheses, and ideas from outside sources, it is essential that you document them. Outside sources include:

1. books 2. web sites 3. periodicals 4. newspapers 5. material from electronic databases6. radio or television programs 7. interviews 8. speeches9. letters and correspondence, including e-mail

10. government sources

Recognizing Common Knowledge

Is this information that you know, without having to look it up?

Is the information readily available in many sources without documentation?

Is the information in a general dictionary?Is it a common saying or expression?Is this widely known information about

authorship or creation?

Using Quotations Effectively

The Purpose of a Quotation

Consider quoting when:The original writing is especially powerful,

colorful, descriptive, or revealingThe original contains language you are

analyzing or commenting onThe original provides authenticity or bolsters

the credibility of your paperThe original material is difficult to adequately

summarize or paraphrase

Quoting: Some Common Errors

Missing Attribution:Unacceptable:

The participants had a great time. “I had the best time of my life (3).

Acceptable:The participants had a great time. Participant Melanie Gehl

noted, “ I had the best time of my life” (13).

Missing Quotation Marks:Unacceptable:

The participants had a great time. Organizer and participant Melanie Gehl noted: I had a great time (13).

Acceptable:The participants had a great time. Organizer and participant

Melanie Gehl noted: “I had a great time” (13).

Quoting: Some Common Errors

Inadequate Citation (no page number given)

Unacceptable: According to Dr. Craig Stroupe, Associate Professor of

New Media Writing at the University of Minnesota Duluth, “computers create new learning opportunities.”

Acceptable: According to Dr. Craig Stroupe, Associate Professor of

New Media Writing at the University of Minnesota Duluth, “computers create new learning opportunities” (13).

Quotations: Rules to Remember

1. Copy the material from your source to your paper exactly as it appears in the original. Use ellipses (three spaced periods: ... ) to indicate where words or phrases have been omitted. Use square brackets ([ ]) to insert essential words not found in the original.

2. Enclose short quotations (four or fewer lines of text) in quotation marks.

3. Provide clear attribution to your source so that your readers know the origin of the quotation.

4. Immediately follow all quotations by a citation indicating the specific source information required.

Paraphrasing Effectively

The Purpose of a Paraphrase

A paraphrase allows you to provide convincing, specific evidence for your argument without having to quote repeatedly.

A paraphrase allows you to interpret or explain the material as you include it.

A paraphrase allows you to define terms and vocabulary.

A paraphrase allows you to write fluently, without interrupting your writing with another person’s writing.

Paraphrasing: Some Common Errors Paraphrase Relies too Heavily on the Original Source

Original: If the existence of a signing ape was unsettling for

linguists, it was also startling news for animal behaviorists. ~Flora Davis, Eloquent Animals, p. 26

Unacceptable Paraphrase:The existence of a signing ape unsettled linguists and startled animal behaviorists (Davis 26).

Unacceptable Paraphrase: If the presence of a sign-language-using chimp was

disturbing for scientist studying language, it was also surprising to scientists studying animal behavior (Davis 26)

Paraphrasing: Some Common ErrorsOriginal:

If the existence of a signing ape was unsettling for linguists, it was also startling news for animal behaviorists. ~Flora Davis, Eloquent Animals, p. 26

Acceptable Paraphrase:When they learned of an ape’s ability to use sign language, both linguists and animal behaviorists were taken by surprise (Davis 26)

Acceptable Paraphrase: According to Flora Davis, author of Eloquent Animals, linguists

and animal behaviorists were unprepared for the news that a chimp could communicate with its trainer through sign language (26).

Paraphrasing: Some Common ErrorsDistortion of MeaningOriginal: Of the more than 1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are

caused by head injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions the head. From "Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers,"Consumer Reports (May 1990): 348.

Unacceptable Paraphrase: Everybody, especially school children, should wear a helmet when

they are biking.  Helmets protect the rider from head injuries that can cause death.  Too many people don't wear helmets and therefore 75% of bicycling deaths are due to head injuries ("Bike Helmets" 348).

Paraphrasing: Some Common Errors Original:

Of the more than 1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are caused by head injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions the head. From "Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers,"Consumer Reports (May 1990): 348.

Acceptable Paraphrase:Research suggests that the use of a helmet can decrease the number of bicycling fatalities, as they are due to head injuries 75% of the time. By protecting the head upon impact, a helmet can reduce accidental injury by as much as 85%, saving the lives of hundreds of victims annually, half of whom are school children ("Bike Helmets" 348).

Effective ParaphrasingRead for meaning

Make sure you understand the original source material.Jot down notes as you read

Mark important ideas, phrases, that strike you as important in the original source material.

Change the voicePretend that you’re relating the original material to a

peer.Change the structure

Start your paraphrase at different point than the original material, while at the same time avoiding misrepresenting the source.

Revise!

Paraphrasing: Rules to Remember

Use your own words and sentence structure. Your paraphrase must not duplicate the source’s words or phrases.

Use quotation marks within your paraphrase to indicate quoted material.

Make sure your readers know when the paraphrase begins and ends.

Check that your paraphrase is an accurate and objective restatement of the source’s specific ideas.

Immediately follow your paraphrase with a parenthetical reference indicating the source of the information.