AVOIDING PLAGIARISM INTRODUCTION What is Plagiarism PLAGIARISM Borrowing
AVOIDING PLAGIARISM
INTRODUCTION What is Plagiarism?
PLAGIARISM: Borrowing someone else’s words, ideas, or creation without giving them credit for it. When you research a topic online, in a book, a magazine, or anywhere else, and you use the author’s words or ideas in your own writing without giving that author credit, that’s plagiarism.
EXERCISE 1: Recognizing Plagiarism
Take a few minutes to read “The Hungry Venus Flytrap. ” Then we’ll look at some different ways students have used this information in their own writing. The link is the green button on the side of the QPS page on the website.
This is Joe is writing a report about the Venus flytrap for school. One of his sources is the article you just read. Your job is to tell Joe when he is plagiarizing.
Here’s one sentence: The Venus flytrap attracts insects by displaying a red, lush-looking interior, tricking them into thinking it’s a flower. Is this plagiarism or not plagiarism?
Let’s compare Joe’s writing with the article. The Venus flytrap attracts insects by displaying a red, lush First they attract insects by -looking interior, tricking them displaying a red, lush- into thinking it’s a flower. looking interior, tricking Joe copied almost an entire sentence, word for word, into his own report. , so it’s plagiarism! them into thinking it’s a flower.
Let’s look at another example: In “The Hungry Venus Flytrap, ” Buglover explains that the Venus flytrap has a bright red center, which makes it look like a flower. This makes insects attracted to it. Plagiarism or not plagiarism?
It’s NOT plagiarism because Joe put the information from the article into his own words. He also gave credit to the author, so this is not plagiarism. Good job, Joe.
Here’s another example: This plant happens to grow in dirt that is too low in nitrogen to meet its needs. To make up for that lack of nitrogen, it gets it by eating insects. Plagiarism or not plagiarism?
Oh Joe … this is plagiarism! You just changed a few words from the original without crediting the author. This plant happens to grow in dirt that is too low in nitrogen to meet its needs. To make up Venus flytraps happen to grow in soil that is too low in nitrogen to meet their needs. To make up for that lack of nitrogen, it gets nitrogen, they get it by eating insects. consuming insects.
Here’s another one: The Venus flytrap needs to eat insects because they contain nitrogen, which is a nutrient the plant needs and can’t get from the soil it grows in. Plagiarism or not plagiarism?
The Venus flytrap needs to eat insects because they contain nitrogen, which is a nutrient the plant needs and can’t get from the soil it grows in. This is still a type of plagiarism, because although he used his own words, he did not give credit to the author.
The Venus flytrap needs to eat insects because they contain nitrogen, which is a nutrient the plant needs and can’t get from the soil it grows in, according to Samantha Buglover. This is better.
Here’s another example: According to Samantha Buglover, “The jaws of the flytrap clamp shut in as little as one tenth of a second, trapping the insect forever. ” Plagiarism or not plagiarism?
In this case, it’s not plagiarism because Joe used the author’s exact words, but he gave her credit for it and put quotation marks around the words that came right from her article.
Now that you know what plagiarism is, let’s practice some ways to avoid it.
Basically, there are three ways to avoid plagiarism in your own writing.
1. DIRECT QUOTES: Copying some of the author’s exact words, but putting them in quotes and giving the author credit. 2. PARAPHRASING: Restating more specific points in a way that’s closer to how the author wrote it, and giving the author credit. 3. SUMMARIZING: Putting general information you learn from your sources in your OWN words, and giving the author credit.
Let’s practice the first one: Putting things in your own words, also known as QUOTING.
EXERCISE 2: Using Direct Quotes
This is when you want to use the exact words in the text. Meet Eva is researching sumo wrestling – read the article she will use. It’s another green button on the left side of the page. Eva really likes the last line of the sumo article exactly as it was written.
She can’t JUST copy it, though. RIGHT, EVA?
Sumo wrestlers see their work as a great honor, which is why every day they are renewing their commitment to a tradition that is anything but simple. These aren’t Eva’s words. They were lovingly crafted by Jason Mori.
Here’s what she does instead:
Sumo wrestlers see their work as a great honor, which is why every day they are, in the words of writer Jason Mori, “renewing their commitment to a tradition that is anything but simple. ”
Now, you’re going to write your own answer to the question “Were do sumo wrestlers sleep? ” and include a quote. The information can be found in this section.
One more – answer the question “Why do sumo wrestlers wait until noon to eat? ” and include a quote in your answer. The information can be found in this section.
Remember, in your answer, use a direct quote from the article to support your writing. Copy your answer into the spot in the google classroom for my to approve. This cheat sheet will show you more ways to do this. It is another green button – I suggest you print it off!
- Slides: 30