Plagiarism PigstyPlagiarism Pigsty Don’t get stuck in the mud!Don’t get stuck in the mud!

Linda McSweeney

Spaulding High School

Last updated 9/23/2008

http://flickr.com/photos/garrulus/808181205/in/photostream/

What is Plagiarism?What is Plagiarism?

PlagiarizePlagiarize:: to steal or pass to steal or pass off (the ideas or words of off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own: use another) as one’s own: use (another’s production) (another’s production) without crediting the sourcewithout crediting the source (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11thth ed). ed).

It’s not a black & white issue.It’s not a black & white issue.Plagiarism can get a bit muddy….Plagiarism can get a bit muddy….

Purdue University Online Writing Lab, http://owl.English.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_plagiar.html

Clearly Plagiarism

Cutting and pasting (without citing) someone else’s work is plagiarism! It turns your paper into garbage!

So, what’s the BIG deal?

Honesty mattersHonesty matters@@

SpauldingSpaulding

We want to know We want to know whatwhat

YOUYOUthinkthink

YOUYOUknowknow

YOUYOUlearnlearn

SHS Academic Honesty Policy

“Academic Integrity matters at Spaulding. It represents a student’s commitment to honesty and respect with teachers and among peers. It also demonstrates a student’s responsibility for his/her own learning.”

(from: Barre Technical Center and Spaulding High School Campus: Parent and Student Handbook 2008-2009.)

SHS Academic Honesty Policy

“Academic misconduct, intentional or unintentional is unacceptable at Spaulding. Misconduct is defined as:

Cheating— providing or receiving unauthorized assistance

Plagiarism— presenting someone else’s ideas, words, or graphics as your own without giving credit to the original author

Falsification-- falsifying or inventing information…;forging signatures on school-related documents.

Interference— interfering or obstructing another student’s academic work (ex. Stealing notes)

Complicity— working in groups without teacher approval

(from: Barre Technical Center and Spaulding High School Campus: Parent and Student Handbook 2008-2009.)

OK, here’s an example from aresearch paper

@ Spaulding about ancient

Rome…

Three sloping couches were placed around a square table with one left open for serving. Blankets and pillows were arranged also on the couches…

Sloping couches? Hmmm…

http://flickr.com/photos/michaelloudon/337638145

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en

So WHEN do you have to give credit to someone else? (cite your source)

words

ideas

graphics

http://flickr.com/photos/paws_and_toes/539491001/

http://flickr.com/photos/paws_and_toes/539491001/

What 3 types What 3 types of information of information should always should always be cited in a be cited in a paper or project?paper or project?

Is there any time you don’t have to give credit and cite a source?

Absolutely!

When it’s YOUR OWN words, ideas, or graphics.

When you use “COMMON KNOWLEDGE”-- (The theory is that everybody knows this stuff).

What are the two What are the two times you don’t need to times you don’t need to cite your source? cite your source?

Your Own InformationYour Own Information

Common KnowledgeCommon Knowledge (Can I find the same

information in at least 3 sources?)

Don’t drown in Don’t drown in the details of the details of what is or is not what is or is not plagiarism….plagiarism….

If you aren’t sure If you aren’t sure about it, just be about it, just be safe and cite it.safe and cite it.

http://flickr.com/photos/haller/1225898901/

Which of these do you need to cite?Which of these do you need to cite?

How I feel about Sept. 11, 2001.How I feel about Sept. 11, 2001.NO. It’s my words and ideas.NO. It’s my words and ideas.

Information I learned about whales on a Information I learned about whales on a National Geographic National Geographic television programtelevision program

YES! Someone else’s words and ideas YES! Someone else’s words and ideas even though it isn’t on paper.even though it isn’t on paper.

A quote from Martin Luther King’s “I Have a A quote from Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speechDream” speech

YES—if it’s in quotes then you must cite it.YES—if it’s in quotes then you must cite it.

That the United States declared independence That the United States declared independence from England on July 4, 1776.from England on July 4, 1776.

NO—this is “common knowledge”NO—this is “common knowledge”

A summary I wrote in my own words with A summary I wrote in my own words with information that came from a library bookinformation that came from a library book

Well, YES! The info came from a book!Well, YES! The info came from a book!

A copyrighted photo I found by searching A copyrighted photo I found by searching Google “Images” cut and pasted into my Google “Images” cut and pasted into my PowerPoint presentationPowerPoint presentation

Most definitely YES! I didn’t create it!Most definitely YES! I didn’t create it!

Information in a second paragraph that Information in a second paragraph that came from a source I already cited in came from a source I already cited in another paragraph.another paragraph.

Absolutely—every paragraph should be Absolutely—every paragraph should be cited unless it’s your own thoughts or cited unless it’s your own thoughts or common knowledgecommon knowledge

A paragraph from a letter my grandfather A paragraph from a letter my grandfather wrote about his experiences in Vietnamwrote about his experiences in Vietnam

Yes, it’s your grandfather’s words, not Yes, it’s your grandfather’s words, not your words.your words.

Research Paper Toolbox

QuoteParaphraseSummarize

QuoteHow to Quote? Hit the

nail directly on the head with a hammer!

Must match your source exactly word-for-word

Must be just a small part of the original

Notetaking Tip--When you take notes, circle or

highlight anything that is a quote.

“In his book, called Description of the World, Polo told about Kublai Kahn’s

prosperous, advanced empire.”

ParaphraseHow? This is like using a wrench to

‘monkey’ around.

It sounds simple, but it can be tricky.

The rule is: USE YOUR OWN WORDS

Paraphrase Example

Original from World Book Encyclopedia--

“Polo commented on many Chinese customs, such as the mining and use of coal as fuel. Coal had not yet been used in Europe. Polo called coal black stones.”

My Paraphrase —

When he returned from his trip to China, Marco Polo brought back many new ideas to Europe. He told of the Chinese use of “black stones” for fuel. Using coal for fuel was a new concept for Europeans in 1298.

Summarize

How? Think about painting with a big paint roller—no details.

Include only the main points

Read the source first, make notes, then, write a summary without looking at the source

Summarize ExampleOriginal Text—

“Polo commented on many Chinese customs, such as the mining and use of coal as fuel. Coal had not yet been used in Europe. Polo called coal black stones.”

My Summary—

Marco Polo, gave Europeans some of their earliest information about Chinese customs.

Remember your toolbox!

QuoteParaphraseSummarize

Are you going to get stuck in Are you going to get stuck in the plagiarism pigsty?the plagiarism pigsty?

I hope your answer is:

When pigs fly!

The End!The End!

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