Avoiding Plagiarism

What it is and why you should avoid it!

http://library.camden.rutgers.edu/EducationalModule/Plagiarism/whatisplagiarism.html

Plagiarism is…

“The unauthorized use or close imitation of the of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s original work.” Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, 1996.

Or….taking someone else’s work and presenting it as your own.

Dishonest Cheating Stealing

From Kathy Schrock's Guide to Plagiarism

Two types of plagiarism: Intentional

Copying a friend’s work

Buying or borrowing papers

Cutting and pasting blocks of text from electronic sources without quotes and citation

Media “borrowing”without written permission of creator

Republishing anything to the web without written permissions of creators

Using any material in a public way without written permission

Unintentional (lazy) Careless summarizing Poor documentation Quoting excessively Failure to use your

own “voice”

From Kathy Schrock's Guide to Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a SERIOUS problem…

“A study of almost 4,500 students at 25 schools, suggests cheating is . . . a significant problem in high school - 74% of the respondents admitted to one or more instances of serious test cheating and 72% admitted to serious cheating on written assignments. Over half of the students admitted they have engaged in some level of plagiarism on written assignments using the Internet.”

Based on the research of Donald L. McCabe, Rutgers UniversitySource: “CIA Research.” Center for Academic Integrity, Duke University,

2003 <http://academicintegrity.org/cai_research.asp>.

From Kathy Schrock's Guide to Plagiarism

Excuses

It’s okay if I don’t get caught!

I was too busy to write that paper!

(Job, big game, too much homework!)

My teachers expect

too much!

I’ve got to get into

The U.!

My parents expect “A”s!

This assignment was BORING!

Everyone does it!

Consequences at Northwood Assignment consequences are up to teachers:

A “Zero” on the assignment Redoing the whole assignment Call home concerning the plagiarized assignment Note on student record (job or college effects) Suspension from student activities/sports

Loss of Trust Lost Reputation

Yes, teachers do know…

They know your writing ‘voice’ and vocabulary

They can check too! http://www.turnitin.com/ http://www.millikin.edu/wcenter/

plagiarism3.html Google

Avoiding Plagiarism

Research Capture your sources as you research!

Writing Direct copy/paste must be in quotes Summarize and put in your own words

Citations Always create a Bibliography

From Gordon, Colin H., et al. “Plagiarism Brochure” Biology Program Guide 2003/2004. University of British Columbia. Online.

http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/bpg/plagiarism.htm. 5 September 2003.

Writing

Original Organization

Use direct quotations or your own words

Read the draft closely

From Gordon, Colin H., et al. “Plagiarism Brochure” Biology Program Guide 2003/2004. University of British Columbia. Online.

http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/bpg/plagiarism.htm. 5 September 2003.

What about multimedia & graphics!?

Graphics such as pictures, drawings, photos, charts

Multimedia such as video’s, audio files (wav, mp3, anything and everything!)

Have copyright protection and MUST always have a Bibliography!!!

Citations –Make a Bibliography!

When in doubt CITE

Citations must clearly identify the sources you used

Include a complete bibliography or works cited section in your paper, even if not teacher required…

From Gordon, Colin H., et al. “Plagiarism Brochure” Biology Program Guide 2003/2004. University of British Columbia. Online.

http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/bpg/plagiarism.htm. 5 September 2003.

Do I have to cite

everything?

Nope!

Facts that are widely known, or Information or judgments

considered “common knowledge” Do NOT have to be documented.

Hooray for common

knowledge!

Examples of common knowledge

John Adams was our second president The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor

on December 7, 1941

If you see a fact in three or more sources, and you are fairly certain your readers already know this information, it is likely to be “common knowledge.” But remember - when in doubt, cite!

No need to document when:

You are discussing your own thoughts, experiences, observations, data, experiments or reactions

Compiling the results of your original research, from science experiments, etc.

Remember…

Only you can prevent plagiarism!

Copyright and Fair Use Copyright is breeched when you take

someone’s work and use it without written permission

Fair Use guidelines create exceptions for students and teachers to use copyrighted material for education Limited Must follow strict rules!

From Kathy Schrock's Guide to Plagiarism

Copyright Protects:

Pictures, Drawings, even on MySpace

Film, Video, TV shows and commercials

CDs or DVDs (you buy it,

you own ONE copy)

Computer databases

and spreadsheets But students,

for education ONLY have Fair Use!

Any text, books, blogs, ebay ads, etc

Music, lyrics, mp3 or other audio files

Copyright

Is a legal term with legal punishments Everyone’s work is AUTOMATICALLY

protected by copyright law You must get written permission to use

copyrighted material if it does not meet Fair Use Guidelines

Fair Use material MUST have a Bibliography to be used.

Fair Use – only applies if all four features are met…..

Purpose Teach, research, news reporting

Nature Factual, important to your education

Amount SMALL!

Effect Does not take $$$ away from creator

Fair Use does not apply to…

Republishing anything to the web without written permissions of creators

Using any material (song, video, script, music) in a public way or performance without written permission

These both assume $ is being lost

Fair Use Rules (whichever is LESS)

Film, video, TV, etc 10% or 3 minutes

Text, books, blogs, websites, etc 10% or 1000 words

Pictures, drawings, graphics, cartoons No more than 5 pictures from one artist

Music, lyrics etc 10% or 30 seconds

Copyright Free Resources

Creative Commmons: a new way to share http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses

Copyright friendly resources (including Public Domain): http://copyrightfriendly.wikispaces.com/

Coming Soon….

How to do Bibliographies the short simple way!

For now…make sure to capture the book titles and website URLs that you do use