Giving Credit Where Credit is Due: How to Avoid Plagiarism

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due: How to Avoid Plagiarism

What is plagiarism?

Some forms of plagiarism are obvious, but the topic of plagiarism is actually pretty complex. Often, students plagiarize unintentionally because they don't know the rules. Here are some guidelines...

Multiple Choice

What is the BEST definition of PLAGIARISM?

• copy and pasting

• using quotation marks

• copying someone's work without giving them credit

• giving someone credit for their work

When do I need to cite a source?

• You are using someone else's exact words (even if it's just a phrase if that phrase is unique)

• You are using someone else's ideas or research

• You are giving information that you learned from a source

Multiple Choice

True or False: I still need to cite my source, even if I paraphrase - put it in my own words - or summarize the information.

• true

• false

TRUE!

You need to cite the source in the previous cases, even when you are summarizing or paraphrasing.

To Review:

Summarizing is restating someone else's words, usually to give information in a briefer way.

Paraphrasing is restating someone else's words in order to make them more clear.

A Note on Summarizing and Paraphrasing...

In either case, when you paraphrase or summarize, very few of the author's original words should be present. Especially avoid re-using unique words or phrases. In fact, even your syntax - the way you structure sentences-- should be different from the original.

Multiple Choice

A good paraphrase has the _____________ ___________, different words, and different word order.

• same ideas

• different ideas

• weird synonyms

When do I NOT need to cite a source?

• You are sharing your own experiences or thoughts

• You are using well-known, rarely disputed facts

• You are using common knowledge - knowledge that your average reader can be expected to know

Common Knowledge

You don't need to cite a source to say that Barrington Irving is a pilot.

You SHOULD cite a source if you provide a list of his accomplishments in the same order as the National Geographic article.

There is some gray area when it comes to "common knowledge", so cite the source if you are unsure.