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Avoiding Plagiarism

Avoiding Plagiarism. Library Workshop Coconino Community College March 2010. What is Plagiarism?. Plagiarism is the intellectual theft of someone else’s thoughts, words or ideas. Plagiarism can be intentional or accidental.

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Avoiding Plagiarism

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  1. Avoiding Plagiarism Library Workshop Coconino Community College March 2010

  2. What is Plagiarism? • Plagiarism is the intellectual theft of someone else’s thoughts, words or ideas. • Plagiarism can be intentional or accidental. • Plagiarism occurs when a student attempts to pass off someone else’s thoughts, words or ideas as his or her own. • Plagiarism occurs when a student does not correctly complete documentation for the borrowed source.

  3. What is Documentation? • Documentation (or citation) is the way to give credit to the sources you use to support your opinions or ideas. • To document correctly, you must incorporate both in-text (or parenthetical) citationsafter the borrowed material and include a bibliography page at the end of the paper. • Both in-text citations and a bibliography page must be used to avoid plagiarism.

  4. Documentation Styles The most common documentation styles are: • MLA (Modern Language Association) is often used in English, language and humanities classes. • APA (American Psychological Association) is often used in science, health and social & behavioral science classes. • There are other documentation styles. Check with your instructor to find out which one to use.

  5. What is an In-Text Citation? • Identifies that you have borrowed material and where you borrowed it from • Clarifies where your ideas or borrowed material ends • Allows the reader to reference the complete publication information of each source on your bibliography page • Often includes the author’s last name, the page number where information was found and the date of publication Example: (Anderson, 2007, p. 39).* • Each documentation style has a specific format for in-text citations* Example is in APA style. Notice the period for the sentence comes afterthe parentheses!

  6. What is a Bibliography Page? • Includes all of the publication information needed for the reader to locate the source • Permits the reader to see the complete publication information on a separate page so that your text is not as interrupted • Each documentation style has a specific format in which to create the bibliography page • For an example, see the Works Cited pages at the end of this Workshop* *These Works Cited pages are in MLA style, although they were single spaced to save room. The correct format is to double space the entire Works Cited page.

  7. Bibliography Page • The bibliography page is entitled ‘Works Cited’ in MLA and ‘References’ in APA. • In both documentation styles, the bibliography is on a separate page at the end of the paper. • The citations are alphabetized by the author’s last name. • The entire bibliography page should be double spaced. • Both MLA and APA styles use a ‘hanging indent’ (opposite from a paragraph indentation) to show when one entry ends and when a new one begins. For an example of a hanging indent, see this Workshop’s Works Cited pages.

  8. What is Cyber-plagiarism? • Cyber-plagiarism occurs when text is copied & pasted from an online source into a paper without giving proper credit to the original source. • Each documentation style, such as MLA & APA, has specific ways to document electronic resources. Remember:The Internet is a free resource, but it is not common knowledge; you must document electronic sources, such as websites and database articles, properly!

  9. What is Common Knowledge? • Common knowledge consists of well-known information and facts widely available in a variety of standard reference books. Example: Solar energy is one answer to future energy needs. • However, forecasts about how widely solar power may be used twenty years from now would require documentation.

  10. Don’t Forget Images! • You must document all images you borrow from print or electronic sources. • Images include: charts, graphs, photos, drawings, maps, etc. • Each documentation style has a specific way to correctly cite images. Remember:Cutting & pasting electronic images without giving proper credit to the source is plagiarism.

  11. Popular Myths about Plagiarism • Myth: Putting the author’s ideas into your own words does not require documentation. • Myth: Switching words around or using a synonym for a few words in the original source is paraphrasing. • Myth: Cutting & pasting factual electronic information need not be documented. • Myth: Using information from the Internet does not require documentation since it is free to everyone, and is therefore common knowledge.

  12. Debunking Plagiarism Myths • Changing or rearranging one or even a few words from the borrowed material is notparaphrasing—it is plagiarism. • The author’s words are only one part of what needs to be cited. The author’s ideas and research findings also must be documented. Putting the author’s ideas into your own words stillrequires documentation. • Alloriginal information, including from electronic or Internet sources, must be documented.

  13. When Should You Use In-Text Citations? In the body of your paper, document using an in-text citation anywhere you use borrowed material from a source. Document when: • quoting • summarizing • paraphrasing

  14. Example—The Original Text “The character and mentality of the keepers may be of more importance in understanding prisons than the character and mentality of the kept.”

  15. Characteristics of Quotations • Written word-for-word from a source • Enclosed by quotation marks • Quotation marks and in-text citation are both needed to avoid plagiarism, along with an entry on the bibliography page Remember: When quoting exact words from a source, you will not avoid plagiarism by using quotation marks only!

  16. Example of a Quotation from the Original Text According to one critic of the penal system, “The character and mentality of the keepers may be of more importance in understanding prisons than the character and mentality of the kept” (Mitford 9).

  17. Characteristics of Summaries • Written in your own words • Include only the main points; leave out details • Use fewer words than the source • Do not follow the organization of the source • Be objective; do not change the author’s meaning • Quotation marks are not used

  18. Example of a Summary from the Original Text Mitford holds that more may be learned about prisons by studying the prison officials’ psychological health (9).

  19. Characteristics of Paraphrases • Written in your own words • More detailed than a summary; include main points and details • Have approximately the same number of words as the source • Keep the same organization as the source • Be objective; do not change the author’s meaning • Quotation marks are not used

  20. Example of a Paraphrase from the Original Text We may understand prisons better if we focus on the personalities and attitudes of the prison workers rather than those of the inmates (Mitford 9).

  21. Tips to Avoid Plagiarism • Break the assignment into sections. Create a timeline for completing the assignment based on the due date. • Plan ahead to allow approximately 60% of your time for the research process. • Get started on the initial research as soon as you get the assignment. Many cases of accidental plagiarism are caused by not allowing enough time to research and write the paper.

  22. Tips to Avoid Plagiarism (Cont.) • When taking notes, write down all of the documentation information you will need from each source when you use it in your paper. • Write all information in direct quotes when taking notes. This will avoid later confusion as to whether or not information has already been paraphrased. • Incorporate all in-text citations into your first draft so that there is no uncertainty later about whether a concept is your original idea or whether you borrowed it from a source.

  23. Tips to Avoid Plagiarism (Cont.) • Consult the appropriate style guide early in the process so that you know what type of information you will need to correctly complete your bibliography page for each source. • Use database citation options when they are offered. Verify they are correct and appropriate for the required documentation style.

  24. Tips to Avoid Plagiarism (Cont.) • Include your bibliography page in the same document as your paper rather than beginning a new Word document. Your bibliography page is part of your paper! • When in doubt, CITE! Documenting when it isn’t technically necessary is much better than failing the paper for plagiarizing! • Save your reference documents. Double-check all quotations and citations before submitting the paper.

  25. Tips to Avoid Plagiarism (Cont.) • Read over your paper and ask yourself whether your readers can properly identify which ideas and words are yours and which are from the sources you cite. • Get a second opinion. Ask a friend or come into the Library/Learning Enhancement Center (LEC) for assistance.

  26. Documentation Guidelines • Ask your instructor for clarification. • Visit the CCC Library’s website for documentation handouts, workshops and websites. • Check a style manual or an English handbook. • Ask a member of the CCC Library staff or an LEC Learning Assistant questions. • Review CCC’s Academic Dishonesty & Plagiarism Policies & Proceduresin the Student Handbook for specifics regarding penalties for plagiarism at CCC.

  27. Works Cited Aaron, Jane E. The Little, Brown Handbook: Brief Version. New York: Longman, 2002. “Avoiding Plagiarism.” University of Alberta Libraries. May 2005. University of Alberta. 8 May 2008 <http://www.library.ualberta.ca/guides/plagiarism/avoiding/index.cfm>. Hairston, Maxine, John J. Ruszkiewicz, and Daniel E.Seward. CoreText: A Handbook for Writers. NewYork:Longman, 1997. Harris, Muriel. Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1997. Murray, Mary. “Common Myths about Plagiarism.” Writing Across the Curriculum: The Writing Center. 2008. Cleveland State University. 8 May 2008 <http://www.csuohio.edu/writingcenter/WAC/Common%20Myths%20about%20Plagiarism.doc>.

  28. Works Cited “Plagiarism: What is it and How to Recognize it and Avoid it.” Writing Tutorial Services: Indiana University. 27 April 2004. The Trustees of Indiana University. 8 May 2008 <http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarismshtml>. “Scheduling Your Project.” Internet Public Library for Teens: teenspace. 2008. The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2 June 2008 <http://www.ipl.org/div/aplus/schedule.htm>. “Why Students Plagiarize.” University of Alberta Libraries. May 2005. University of Alberta. 8 May 2008<http://library.ualberta.ca/guides/plagiarism/avoiding/index.cfm>.

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