AVOIDING PLAGIARISM Joanne F Christensen Adapted from power

AVOIDING PLAGIARISM Joanne F. Christensen Adapted from power points by Marianne F. Bates , Joyce Valenza & Joy Mc. Gregor Joanne F. Christensen Adapted from power points by Marianne F. Bates & Joyce Valenza

The Problem of PLAGIARISM: Students who plagiarize may not realize they have done anything wrong

What is plagiarism? Representing someone else’s ideas or words as your own.

What is plagiarism? Allowing someone else to copy your work or writing something for someone else.

What is self-plagiarism? Handing in the same work for more than one assignment (without permission from the teacher).

What is intentional plagiarism? § Copying a friend’s work § Buying or borrowing papers § Cutting and pasting blocks of text from electronic sources without documenting

What is intentional plagiarism? § Media “borrowing” without documentation § Web publishing without permissions of creators

What is unintentional plagiarism? § Careless paraphrasing § Poor documentation § Quoting excessively § Failure to use your own “voice”

Example § A plagiarism scandal erupted at Southern Utah University at the end of 2012. § Students in the ESL program were accused of plagiarism and not being held accountable for it.

Results of Plagiarism § The responsible teacher was put on probation and the department launched an investigation. § SUU will seek specialized accreditation for the program, resulting in faculty with higher credentials.

Additional Information § This year, Jonah Lehrer, a writer for The New Yorker magazine, lost his job for making up quotes. § In the last 10 years, 2 writers for the Salt Lake Tribune have lost their jobs. --Salt Lake Tribune. 4 Dec 2012, 9 Dec 2012.

Excuses It’s okay if I don’t get caught! This assignment was BORING! My teachers expect too much! Everyone does it! I was too busy to write that paper! (Job, big game, too much homework!) I’ve got to get into ? ? ? U. ! My parents expect “A”s!

Why Academic Integrity? § When you copy you cheat yourself. You limit your own learning. § The consequences are not worth the risks! § It is only right to give credit to authors whose ideas you use

Why Academic Integrity? § Citing gives authority to the information you present § Citing makes it possible for your readers to locate your source § Education is not an “us vs. them” game! It’s about learning to learn! § Cheating is unethical behavior

High School Plagiarism “A study of almost 4, 500 students at 25 schools, suggests cheating is. . . a significant problem in high school. . . 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. Mc. Cabe, Rutgers University

Is this important? What if: § Your architect cheated his way through math class. Will your new home be safe? § Your lawyer paid for a copy of the bar exam to study. Will the contract she wrote for you stand up in court? § The accountant who does your taxes hired someone to write his papers and paid a stand-in to take his major tests? Does he know enough to complete your tax forms properly? --Lathrop and Foss 87

Three Keys to Avoid Plagiarism § Summarize § Paraphrasing § Direct Quotations

Using Keywords To Summarize § Use your own words § Use common information from multiple sources § Give descriptions § Write main ideas

Secrets of Paraphrasing § Use your own words § Use different sentence structure and phrases than the source uses § Use paraphrasing to avoid quoting § Synonyms may also be helpful in paraphrasing

Common Knowledge Do I have to give credit for everything I write? No, you do not have to have credit for common knowledge such as: § Barack Obama is president of the U. S. § Salt Lake is the capital of Utah. § The Mississippi is a river in Illinois.

Putting it together

Which is your project?

Summing up. . . § Use summarizing, paraphrasing and quotations to help support your topic. § Do not overuse sources (remember Visualizing Synthesis). § Ask a teacher or librarian if you need help.

Good luck with your research!

Sources § Bates, Marianne F. “Avoiding Plagiarism. ” Powerpoint. June 2007. § Combes, Barbara. “Plagiarism and Grading Essays. ” Library Listserve e-mail. 17 May 2006. § Greene County Juvenile Justice Center. Image: Probation. [2012]. Web. 8 Jan 2013. http: //www. greenecountymo. org § Jordan, Chris. “At a Crossroad: Plagiarisms. ” Crossroads. Fall 2006, 3. § Journalism. org. “Resources. ” 11 Nov 2006 <http: //www. journalism. org/resources/briefing/archive/blair. asp>

More Sources… § KSL. Image of SUU. www. ksl. com § Lathrop, Ann and Kathleen Foss. Student Cheating and Plagiarism in the Internet Era. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2000. § Maffly, Brian. “Is Southern Utah University tolerating plagiarism by ESL students. ” Salt Lake Tribune. 4 Dec 2012. Web. 7 Jan 2013. § Mcentee, Peg. “Mc. Entee: Writing wrong: Utah teachers confront the plague of plagiarism. ” The Salt Lake Tribune. 9 Dec 2012. Web. 7 Jan 2013. § Mc. Gregor, Joy. “Visualizing Synthesis. ” Charles Sturt University. Slide Share. 2004. Web. 7 Jan 2012. http: //www. slideshare. net/joymcg/visualising-synthesis

More Sources… § Microsoft Word 2000. “Word Help. ” 10 Sep 2007 <http: //www. bcschools. net/staff/Word. Help. htm#Intro § Office Online. “Clip Art and Media. ” 10 Sep 2007 <http: //office. microsoft. com/clipart/default. aspx? lc=en-us> § Valenza, Joyce. “What Is Plagiarism. ” Powerpoint Presentation. 10 Sep 2007 <http: //www. sdst. org/shs/library/powerpoint/plagiarism. ppt> § Wikipedia. “Barack Obama Official Portrait. ” [2012]. Web. 7 Jan 2013.