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pla.gia.rize: transitive verb: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own: : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source (Merriam-Webster 1728). pla.gia.rize: transitive verb: to take what isn’t yours and tell everybody it is
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pla.gia.rize: transitive verb: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own: : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source (Merriam-Webster 1728)
pla.gia.rize: transitive verb: to take what isn’t yours and tell everybody it is (Common Sense 1)
Our Focus • This tutorial will focus on: • the three most common forms of plagiarism • how to use an authors ideas and/or words without plagiarizing • the consequence of plagiarizing
Types of Plagiarism I Vow… Ideas Stealing an author’s idea or concept without giving proper credit. Although you may have completely reworded the text the idea is still presented as if it is your own. Verbatim Copying and pasting text from the original source directly into your paper or project without quoting or giving proper credit. Organization Following the rationale or organization of the author’s article or paper. The text may be completely reworded but the organization of the paper remains the same. Word Switch Copying and pasting text from the original source directly into your paper or project and then switching keywords with their synonyms. This is an inappropriate way to paraphrase. ….Not to Cheat!
Idea: Taking an author’s idea… If I were to take the idea presented in the quote below and present it my work as my own, I’d be plagiarizing. Original Quote “A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.” Bill Cosby Plagiarized Use Some may argue that the expression “a word to the wise” is an oxymoron because wise people shouldn’t need advice, rather stupid people should. This use is considered plagiarism because it takes the author’s idea but does not provide a citation. Therefore the reader is led to believe the writer of this passage is the creator of the idea.
Notice the in-text citation in parentheses, includes the author’s last name, and then the page #. Also notice that the period is now place behind the in-text citation. Idea: Taking an author’s idea… However, If I were to use the exact same passage and include in-text citation – it would not be considered plagiarizing. For example, the following passage is not plagiarized. Some may argue that the expression “a word to the wise” is an oxymoron because wise people shouldn’t need advice, rather stupid people should (Cosby 1). Here is the same passage but this time the writer included a citation demonstrating that Cosby was the creator of the idea. Therefore, this is not considered plagiarism.
Verbatim: Taking an author’s words… If I were to take the author’s words and present them as if they were my own, I’d be plagiarizing. Original Quote I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. Fred Allen Plagiarized Use I’m not opposed to exercise. For example, I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. Badump Bump. This use is considered plagiarism because it takes the author’s words but does not provide a citation. Therefore the reader is led to believe the writer of this passage is the original author of the quote.
Verbatim: Taking an author’s words… However, If I were to use the exact quote including quotation marks and in-text citation – it would not be considered plagiarizing. For example, the following passage is not plagiarized. I’m not opposed to exercise. For example, “I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me” (Allen 2). Badump Bump. This use is not considered plagiarism because it cites the author’s words letting the reader know who the original author is.
Word Switch: Trying to trick to the reader… If I were to take the author’s words and rearrange them as if I were paraphrasing, I’d be plagiarizing. Original Quote “When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity.” Albert Einstein Plagiarized Use When you are flirting with a nice girl hours seem like seconds. When you sit on a red-hot stove seconds seem like hours. That's relativity (Einstein 1). This use is considered plagiarism because it takes the author’s words and idea. This is not paraphrasing but a merely a poor attempt to trick the reader into believing the writer of this passage is the original author of the quote.
Word Switch: Trying to trick to the reader… However, If I were to use the passage verbatim and include quote marks it would not be considered plagiarizing. “When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity” (Einstein 1). Or, if I paraphrased the passage and used in-text citation it would not be considered plagiarizing. The theory of relativity could be humorously explained that the passage of time when flirting with someone is significantly different than the passage of time while being brutally burned (Einstein 1). Both of these passages tell the reader that the writer is not the original author of the words or creator of the idea. Therefore, they are not considered plagiarism.
To Recap • If you take an author’s ideas… • Include in-text citation • If you take an author’s words… • Include quotation marks and in-text citation • Trying to trick the reader? • DON’T
Consequence • Plagiarizing, whether intentional or not will result in bad things happening to you. Some short-term and (depending on the severity) some long-term.
Short term Consequencesschool consequences 1st Offense - zero on assignment, parent-teacher contact, administrator-student conference 2nd Offense - zero on work, 3 day in-school suspension A subsequent offense in cheating will result in a 5 or 10 day school suspension and loss of credit in that course for the semester
Long term Consequences • The act of plagiarism can follow a person for years, even a lifetime. It’s important to make good ethical decisions or be prepared to accept the consequences of making poor choices.
Melanio Acosta made the decision to plagiarize his valedictorian speech. As a high school senior he probably had no idea what impact this would have on his life. Unfortunately, it has followed him for years. Although this incident occurred in 2008 and Melanio has moved on, if you were to search his name via google today, the top results would be about his plagiarism scandal. The google search on the right was conducted on August 25, 2011. All highlighted entries reference his plagiarism.
Kaavya Viswanathan is another example of plagiarism gone wrong. While attending Harvard University she wrote and published a book but soon afterwards the Harvard student newspaper released a story which broke the news that she had plagiarized many of its passages. Although this incident occurred in 2006, it still plagues Viswanathan today. In June, her parents were killed in a plane crash. To the left is an excerpt from a story done about their deaths. The highlighted portions reference and give details of Kaavya’s plagiarism incident.
Young adults aren’t the only people faced with the temptation to cheat. Many adults face the same temptations. Marilee Jones, former dean of admissions at MIT, lied on her original application for a job at MIT and on subsequent applications for promotions. Her lies were discovered in 2007 and made national headlines. To the left you will see a Google search conducted for her name on August 25, 2011. The highlighted results are articles that deal with the scandal. Below is her wikipedia article, last updated August 3, 2011. The highlighted portions reference her cheating at MIT.
In the case of Melanio Acosta his plagiarism was deliberate, but he was young and probably did not realize the long-term consequences. Regardless, his decision still follows him today. • Kaavya Viswanathan says that her plagiarism was unintentional. She has argued that she did not realize she what she was doing was wrong. However, her illegal actions cost her greatly and continue to plague her name today. • Marilee Jones choice to lie on her job application seemed to make little difference in her job performance. However, 28 years later she resigned due to the scandal. Although she has rebuilt her life and started a new business – the scandal is among the top hits in a Google search of her name today.
Recap • If you’re unsure – cite to be safe • Plagiarizing and cheating can follow you for years (and maybe a lifetime) • Don’t plagiarize
Works Cited Finally – Always include a works cited entry for each of the works you used in your project. Allen, Fred. "Funny Quotes - BrainyQuote." Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote. Web. 26 Aug. 2011 <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_funny.html>. Cosby, Bill. "Funny Quotes - BrainyQuote." Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote. Web. 26 Aug. 2011 <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_funny.html>. Einstein, Albert. "Funny Quotes Page 9 - BrainyQuote." Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote. Web. 26 Aug. 2011. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_funny9.html>. Franko, Kantele. "Kaavya Viswanathan Harvard Author's Parents Die In Plane Crash." The Huffington Post. 20 June 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/20/kaavya-viswanathan-harvar_n_880200.html>. "Marilee Jones." Wikipedia. 3 Aug. 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilee_Jones>.
