Avoiding Plagiarism
| Learning Objectives: - Identify instances of plagiarism in an essay.
- Use proper citing of sources to avoid plagiarism.
|
LESSON
PlagiarismThe act of taking someone else's ideas, words, or work and pass it off as your own; copying without giving credit. occurs any time you use another person's words, thoughts, or ideasA thought, opinion, or impression. without giving credit to that person. Some people think that plagiarism is just copying another person's writing word for word, but it is often more subtle than that. ParaphrasingThe use of different words to express the meaning of an original text or speech. from one or more sourcesA person, book, article, or other thing that supplies information. without properly citingTo give credit to the source of ideas or information. them is also plagiarism. Because people do much researchThe use of outside sources as well as investigations and observations in order to form ideas and support claims. Also, the information obtained from such efforts. and writing online, plagiarizing—whether accidental or deliberate—is very easy to do. Plagiarism is a serious offense in both the academic and professional worlds and can lead to expulsion from school or being fired from a job.
Using readily available electronic tools makes it extremely easy for professors, bosses, and others to detect plagiarism. In this lesson, you will learn seven steps to make sure you avoid plagiarism in your writing.
- Focus on your own ideas.
Remember that people who read your writing are interested in your ideas, not those of other people. Only use other people's ideas to back up your own claimsA statement that something is true, such as the thesis of an essay. A successful writer must present evidence to prove his/her claim.. In general, outside sources should only make up about a third of an essayA short piece of writing that focuses on at least one main idea. Some essays are also focused on the author's unique point of view, making them personal or autobiographical, while others are focused on a particular literary, scientific, or political subject. ; the rest of the ideas should be yours. While it is, of course, important to research your topic, it is possible to over-research. If you spend too much time investigating what other people think about a topicThe subject of a reading. , you might neglect to develop your own ideas. It is also more likely that you could accidentally plagiarize other people's work.
- Plan your essay.
You may need to do quite a bit of research before you begin writing, but after you have an idea of the direction you would like your essay to take, put your notes away and plan what you want to communicate to your readers. Your own claims should drive your essay. Once you have outlinedA preliminary plan for a piece of a writing, often in the form of a list. It should include a topic, audience, purpose, thesis statement, and main and supporting points. and brainstormedA prewriting technique where the author lists multiple ideas as he or she thinks of them, not considering one more than another until all ideas are captured. The objective is to create one great idea, or many ideas, on which to base a writing., you will understand what you want to say and then you can focus on supporting your claims with the factsA piece of information that can be proven. Something that is true and indisputable., details, and examples from outside sources. This way you make sure that you, and not your evidence, control the outcome of your essay.
- Take good notes.
Sometimes plagiarism is the effect of taking poor notes. When you do not know where you found material, you will not know how to citeTo give credit to the source of ideas or information. it. Instead of not citing a source or citing it incorrectly, make sure that you record all the important information as soon as you encounter a new source. There are many different strategies for recording notes and sources; figure out what strategy works best for you. If you use several digital sources, you might want to develop a folder on your computer where you can keep all of your digital versions of journal articles. Use the authorA person who wrote a text. and title name as your file name to keep it all sorted. Or you might want to use note cards. On one card, jot down the source's information like author, date, and title, then give that card a number. Then write down any facts, details, and examples that come from that source on separate cards, but use the same number to identify each card as the same source. Then when you use that piece of evidence, you will know where it came from. These are just two of many ways that will ensure that you keep your evidenceFacts, statistics, or expert testimony that supports a claim. organized so that you can cite it when you need to.
- Understand your topic and your material.
Some students fall into the trap of plagiarizing because they do not understand what they are supposed to be writing about. When you take the time to understand your topic, you will be far less likely to plagiarize. Take steps to better understand your subjectThe people, places, things, or ideas being discussed or described. . This may require talking to a tutor or your professor. When you fully understand your topic, you will be able to explain it in your own words. Remember, you still need to cite paraphrased ideas if they are not already commonly known.
- Do not copy and paste.
Avoid copying and pasting sources, even when you plan to directly quote a source; this can make it much too easy to plagiarize. If you place copied and pasted information directly into your writing without making notations, you might even forget that you used another's material word for word. Instead, type direct quotationsAn exact copy of the words from a speech or text. These words are placed inside quotation marks to show that they are a perfect repeat of the original. directly into your source information, outline, or essay. If you plan to paraphrase, read and understand the passage and then write the thought in your own words. Either way, be sure to cite your source correctly.
- Cite your sources.
Whether you quote, paraphrase, or summarizeTo give a short version of the main points of a text. an outside source, you must make it clear that it is another's work. You can use attributive phrasesA short introduction to source material that identifies the author and often the title of a work that will be quoted or discussed in an essay or research paper. , in-text citationsInformation about a source, such as the author, date, and page number, in an essay or research paper that helps readers find the source in the works cited or references page. There are different rules for how to use in-text citations depending on the context of the citation and the style of formatting you are using., and a works cited pageAn alphabetized list of publication information about the sources used in an MLA-formatted essay or research paper. or references pageAn alphabetized list of publication information about the sources used in an APA-formatted essay or research paper. to help your readers locate your outside sources.
- Use a plagiarism checker.
If you are still concerned about plagiarism in your writing, use a plagiarism checker. There are a number of different services available online, and your college may have already purchased one for your use. You can also submit your essay to a tutoring service; the tutors will be able to help you avoid unintentional plagiarism.
Following these seven steps will help ensure that you avoid plagiarizing. It is also recommended that you save every draft that you write, beginning from idea gathering to your final draftThe last version of a writing that has been revised, edited, and proofread.. Unfortunately, it is not unheard of for a student to copy from another student in his/her class. If you are ever in this situation, it will be very useful if you can show your instructor all of your drafts. Digital versions are especially helpful as they are time-stamped and can show who wrote the essay first.
Finally, international students should keep in mind that plagiarism is a serious issue in the United States. In some educational systems, copying well-respected experts is expected of students, and the individual perspective of the student is a less important aspect than it is in Western cultures. You need to be aware that American colleges and companies expect students and employees to cite outside work and will penalize those who do not, even if it is due to a cultural misunderstanding.
+ PRACTICAL APPLICATIONIn any field that involves writing, the issue of plagiarism may arise. There are many examples of plagiarism in politics, journalismCollecting, editing, writing, and presenting news and other information to an audience. , the arts, science, and academia. It is your responsibility to give credit to other people when you are writing, whether in school or work. Plagiarizing accidentally is easy to do, which is why it is important to be mindful in your writing. If you are creating a layout for your company's annual fundraising report and you use someone else's images without giving credit, that is plagiarism. Your employer may be sued. If a colleague presents an idea to you and you use it without giving credit, that is plagiarism, as well. At best, this will damage your work relationships, and at worst, you may lose your job.
There may be times when you are uncertain whether you need to cite a source or not. It is always safest to do so. Your reputation, your education, or your career may be at risk.
First read the source paragraph, which is part of an article about finding college scholarships. Then, read the essay that discusses the source paragraph. You will see several examples of plagiarism. Finally, learn how to correct these mistakes.
Source Paragraph:
Excerpt from Small but Mighty: Go For Quantity More Than Quality in the Scholarship Hunt by Lena Morales
The Internet is undoubtedly the greatest source of information on scholarships, but the sheer amount of advice it provides can be bewildering. Use caution! As James Montoya, vice president of higher education at the College Board says, "There are many scams out there charging for scholarship information that is available for free on the Internet. Avoid companies that claim they will do all the work for you, or those that guarantee scholarship money, or those who claim to have exclusive information" (2011). Katherine Cohen, founder and CEO, IvyWise and ApplyWise.com, has more advice: "There's $3+ billion in scholarships. Research and apply to many 'good fit' scholarships. Find scholarships aligning with your background and abilities using free online tools: FastWeb.com, CollegeBoard.com, and Scholarships.com" (2011).
(Note that in this example, which uses APAA set of guidelines for citing sources used in literary and academic writing. APA style is most commonly used in the social sciences. citation style, neither source has page numbers because they are web sources.) Now, read part of an essay below. Look for examples of plagiarism.
Plagiarized Use of Source Paragraph:
1. College is getting more expensive all the time. 2. Many experts, like Lena Morales, author of "Small but Mighty: Go for Quantity More Than Quality in the Scholarship Hunt," say that it's important to go the extra mile when trying to get a scholarship to help pay for all those costs. 3. One idea is to apply for lots of little scholarships instead of one really big one. 4. That may sound like more trouble than it's worth, but it's easier than you think, as long as you use the Internet. 5. A little searching will turn up over three billion dollars in scholarship money, and you can find ones that fit your background and skills through the use of free online tools like Scholarships.com, FastWeb.com, and CollegeBoard.com.
6. The Internet is undoubtedly the greatest source of information on scholarships, but the sheer amount of advice it provides can be bewildering. 7. Use caution! 8. According to James Montoya, vice president of higher education at the College Board, "There are many scams out there charging for scholarship information that is available for free on the Internet. 9. Avoid companies that claim they will do all the work for you, or those that guarantee scholarship money, or those who claim to have exclusive information."
Plagiarism comes in many forms. Copying language without quotes is the most obvious, but you must also avoid mistakes like repeating ideas without using attributive phrases, failing to provide in-text citations, and paraphrasing passages too closely to the original writing.
Fortunately, errors of plagiarism are easy to avoid and correct. Here is a list of the different types of plagiarism in these paragraphs along with ways to correct these errors.
Error 1:
3. One idea is to apply for lots of little scholarships instead of one really big one.
This idea is taken from the original source with no attributive phrase or in-text citation.
It only takes a few words to make it clear where ideas originate from. Attributive phrases can use language such as "…according to [source]" or "[Source] suggested that…"
In the paragraphs above, add an attributive phrase and an in-text citation to make it clear where the idea came from:
Morales cites Katherine Cohen (2011), founder and CEO of IvyWise and ApplyWise.com, who advises students to apply for lots of little scholarships instead of one really big one.
Error 2:
5. A little searching will turn up over three billion dollars in scholarship money, and you can find ones that fit your background and skills through the use of free online tools like Scholarships.com, FastWeb.com, and CollegeBoard.com.
This sentence is a paraphrase that is too close to original source. It also does not include an attributive phrase or an in-text citation.
Plagiarism is not just copying and pasting; changing a word here and there is not enough to avoid improperly using material. It is important to substantially rewrite a passage. For example, notice the information in this section of the source paragraph:
"There's $3+ billion in scholarships. Research and apply to many 'good fit' scholarships. Find scholarships aligning with your background and abilities using free online tools: FastWeb.com, CollegeBoard.com, and Scholarships.com."
It can be properly paraphrased and cited this way:
With billions of dollars at stake, Cohen notes, many free websites specialize in matching up students and scholarships. They can help you focus on the grants you qualify for, so that you don't waste time with pointless applications (2011).
Error 3:
6. The Internet is undoubtedly the greatest source of information on scholarships, but the sheer amount of advice it provides can be bewildering. 7. Use caution!
This section uses copied language without quotation marksA set of single or double inverted commas (' ' or " ") that are placed around a word or passage to mark the beginning and end of a direct quotation or a title.. This is the most obvious form of plagiarism, and the easiest to correct. If a passage is so compelling that you want to use it verbatimA word for word repeat of an original text or speech., bracket it with quotation marks and provide an attributive phrase and/or an in-text citation.
In her article, Morales says that the Internet is definitely "the greatest source of information on scholarships, but the sheer amount of advice it provides can be bewildering. Use caution!" (2014).
Error 4:
8. According to James Montoya, vice president of higher education at the College Board, "There are many scams out there charging for scholarship information that is available for free on the Internet. 8. Avoid companies that claim they will do all the work for you, or those that guarantee scholarship money, or those who claim to have exclusive information."
This section is missing an in-text citation. It is incorrect to bracket a copied passage with quotation marks if you do not include the source of the quote. There are many styles of in-text citation. Follow the style guidelines you are instructed to use.
Following APA guidelines, because the last name of the author appears in the attributive phrase, the quote above should be amended to include the year it was published as an in-text citation.
According to James Montoya (2011), who runs a scholarship service, "There are many scams out there charging for scholarship information that is available for free on the Internet. Avoid companies that claim they will do all the work for you, or those that guarantee scholarship money, or those who claim to have exclusive information."
Note that MLAA grammar and reference guide used mainly by students and scholars writing about the humanities (languages and literature). guidelines do not require the year of publication in in-text citations. In this case, because the original source is a web source and does not include page numbers, the citation in the quote above would be correct.
Now that we have corrected the plagiarism, let's see the essay again, first following APA style:
College is getting more expensive all the time. Many experts, like Lena Morales, author of "Small but Mighty: Go for Quantity More Than Quality in the Scholarship Hunt" (2014), say that it's important to go the extra mile when trying to get a scholarship to help pay for all those costs. Morales cites Katherine Cohen (2011), founder and CEO of IvyWise and ApplyWise.com, who advises students to apply for lots of little scholarships instead of one really big one. That may sound like more trouble than it is worth, but it is easier than you think, as long as you use the Internet. With billions of dollars at stake, Cohen notes, many free websites specialize in matching up students and scholarships. They can help you focus on the grants you qualify for, so that you don't waste time with pointless applications.
In her article, Morales says that the Internet is definitely "the greatest source of information on scholarships, but the sheer amount of advice it provides can be bewildering. Use caution!" (2014). According to James Montoya (2011), who runs a scholarship service, "There are many scams out there charging for scholarship information that is available for free on the Internet. Avoid companies that claim they will do all the work for you, or those that guarantee scholarship money, or those who claim to have exclusive information."
Here's the same passage in MLA style:
College is getting more expensive all the time. Many experts, like Lena Morales, author of "Small but Mighty: Go for Quantity More Than Quality in the Scholarship Hunt," say that it's important to go the extra mile when trying to get a scholarship to help pay for all those costs. Morales cites Katherine Cohen, who advises students to apply for lots of little scholarships instead of one really big one. That may sound like more trouble than it is worth, but it is easier than you think, as long as you use the Internet. With billions of dollars at stake, Cohen notes, many free websites specialize in matching up students and scholarships. They can help you focus on the grants you qualify for, so that you don't waste time with pointless applications.
In her article, Morales says that the Internet is definitely "the greatest source of information on scholarships, but the sheer amount of advice it provides can be bewildering. Use caution!" According to James Montoya, who runs a scholarship service, "There are many scams out there charging for scholarship information that is available for free on the Internet. Avoid companies that claim they will do all the work for you, or those that guarantee scholarship money, or those who claim to have exclusive information."
First read the source paragraph, which is part of an essay on positive thinking for college students.
Source Paragraph:
Excerpt from Every Glass Half Full: C. Allen White's Optimism for Pessimists – What Every Student Should Know by Jack Smith
Some reviewers disagree, claiming that optimists aren't really more successful in their college careers—they only think that they are. Pessimists have a more realistic world view, the naysayers contend, since you can't always will yourself to be smarter, best your competition, or be liked by others. These skeptics protest that failure is inevitable, and it's better to be prepared for it than to think it can never happen to you. But as White points out, worrying leads to depression, inaction, and poor health. Negative thinking is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Pessimists try to avoid life by overeating, over work, and spending too much time alone. Positive thinkers aren’t deluded: they've simply found ways to change their negative habits and thoughts. In doing so, they discover that they are better equipped to face difficult tasks. How encouraging!
Now read the following analysis of the essay carefully, watching for instances of plagiarism. The sentences have been numbered for reference.
Analysis:
1. In Every Glass Half Full, Jack Smith (2014) acknowledges that not everyone is convinced by White's arguments, including some other reviewers. 2. Such skeptics say that it's inevitable to fail sometimes so the best attitude is to be ready instead of thinking it won't happen. 3. In my opinion, there's no denying that college is stressful and many students will struggle to get through. 4. A sunny smile doesn't pay for textbooks, and repeating affirmations every morning is no substitute for studying hard. 5. Chances are, optimists aren't really more successful in their college careers—they only think that they are.
6. Still, some of the book's points make a lot of sense. 7. As described in the book review, White cites peer-reviewed scientific studies that show pessimism is associated with poor health, loneliness, and even depression. 8. All of that would make school much more difficult. 9. As the author of the review claims, maybe it's true that "negative thinking is a self-fulfilling prophecy." 10. It is a hopeful idea to think that optimists are just as realistic as pessimists, but they've simply learned that positive thinking makes hard times easier.
Identify the following kinds of plagiarism in the analysis above. First, identify each sentence number where the error occurred. Then, identify the type(s) of error. Next, describe how to avoid plagiarism by fixing each error. Finally, rewrite the sentence to include proper citation using APA format. (The same passage, corrected and in MLA style, appears at the end of the exercise.)
Error 1:
What is the first plagiarized sentence?
What is the type of plagiarism?
Paraphrasing original language too closely and failing to cite the source.
How should the error be fixed to avoid plagiarism?
To fix this error, rewrite the paraphrase in your own words and cite the source.
Rewrite the sentence.
Because pessimists know that it's not possible to avoid failure completely, they won't have to deal with shock as well as disappointment when it happens (Smith, 2014).
Error 2:
What is the next plagiarized sentence?
What is the type of plagiarism?
Using a direct quote without quotation marks or a citation.
How should the error be fixed to avoid plagiarism?
To fix this error, add quotation marks around the direct quote and cite the source.
Rewrite the sentence.
Chances are, skeptics are right when they say that "optimists aren't really more successful in their college careers—they only think that they are" (Smith, 2014).
Error 3:
What is the next plagiarized sentence?
What is the type of plagiarism?
Failing to include a citation.
How should the error be fixed to avoid plagiarism?
To fix this error, add an in-text citation identifying the source of the quote.
Rewrite the sentence.
As Smith (2014) claims, maybe it's true that "negative thinking is a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Error 4:
What is the plagiarized sentence?
What is the type of plagiarism?
Failing to include an attributive phrase.
How should the error be fixed to avoid plagiarism?
To fix this error, add an attributive phrase that clarifies that the idea is from the source.
Rewrite the sentence.
I have to agree with Smith's contention that it's hopeful to think that optimists are just as realistic as pessimists, but they've simply learned that positive thinking makes hard times easier.
View the sample rewritten paragraph (APA style).
1. In Every Glass Half Full, Jack Smith (2014) acknowledges that not everyone is convinced by White's arguments, including some other reviewers. 2. Because pessimists know that it's not possible to avoid failure completely, they won't have to deal with shock as well as disappointment when it happens (Smith). 3. In my opinion, there's no denying that college is stressful and many students will struggle to get through. 4. A sunny smile doesn't pay for textbooks, and repeating affirmations every morning is no substitute for studying hard. 5. Chances are, skeptics are right when they say that "optimists aren't really more successful in their college careers—they only think that they are" (Smith).
6. Still, some of the book's points make a lot of sense. 7. As described in the book review, White cites peer-reviewed scientific studies that show pessimism is associated with poor health, loneliness, and even depression. 8. All of that would make school much more difficult. 9. As Smith (2014) claims, maybe it's true that "negative thinking is a self-fulfilling prophecy." 10. I have to agree with Smith's contention that it's hopeful to think that optimists are just as realistic as pessimists, but they've simply learned that positive thinking makes hard times easier.
View the sample rewritten paragraph (MLA style).
1. In Every Glass Half Full, Jack Smith acknowledges that not everyone is convinced by White's arguments, including some other reviewers. 2. Because pessimists know that it's not possible to avoid failure completely, they won't have to deal with shock as well as disappointment when it happens (Smith). 3. In my opinion, there's no denying that college is stressful and many students will struggle to get through. 4. A sunny smile doesn't pay for textbooks, and repeating affirmations every morning is no substitute for studying hard. 5. Chances are, skeptics are right when they say that "optimists aren't really more successful in their college careers—they only think that they are" (Smith).
6. Still, some of the book's points make a lot of sense. 7. As described in the book review, White cites peer-reviewed scientific studies that show pessimism is associated with poor health, loneliness, and even depression. 8. All of that would make school much more difficult. 9. As Smith claims, maybe it's true that "negative thinking is a self-fulfilling prophecy." 10. I have to agree with Smith's contention that it's hopeful to think that optimists are just as realistic as pessimists, but they've simply learned that positive thinking makes hard times easier.
What are some ways that you can avoid plagiarism?
I can avoid plagiarism by taking careful notes in the process of my research. I should record what my ideas are and where they came from. I need to always be aware that my writing should mostly contain my own thoughts that are supported by those of others.
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