Plagiarism: What International Students Should Know

1. Plagiarism:What International Students Should Know Kevin Moberg Writing Center and Supplemental Instruction Coordinator Academic Success Center

2. What Do You Already Know about Plagiarism? • Take this pre-test: • http://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/tutorials/interactive/plagiarism/tutorial/Plagiarism-Pretest-QUIZ.htm

3. Introduction to Plagiarism • All writers borrow ideas from other sources. • When writers do that, they are expected to acknowledge from whom they borrowed their ideas. • If they do not, it is as though they are pretending that those ideas are actually their own. That is considered to be lying. • It is also considered to be stealing, since they are stealing the ideas from the original source. • That is plagiarism, and it is considered grounds for punishment.

4. What Is “Plagiarism”? • Stealing • Stealing ideas from the original creator • Stealing written work from the original author • Fraud—deceit, lying • Pretending that someone else’s work is your own • Misleading others into believing that you have created ideas or work that you have actually taken from someone else

5. How Does Plagiarism Occur? • Essays/papers/compositions • Turning in another’s essay as your own • Turning in an essay in which you include others’ work as though it were your own • Turning in an essay without acknowledging that it includes ideas taken from someone else • Tests/examinations/quizzes • Sharing test questions or answers with another • Using resources that are not allowed (calculator, notes, etc.)

6. How Do You Know Whether You Have Plagiarized? • Ask yourself, “Would someone reading this work think that I created something that was really created by another person?” • If the answer is “yes,” then it is plagiarism.

7. Why Should Plagiarism Concern You? • Potential penalties are harsh! • Reprimand • Failing grade on the essay or exam • Failing grade in the course • Suspension or expulsion from the program • Suspension or expulsion from the university • Legal action and fees

8. Why Is Plagiarism a Concern at University? • Value of individual thought • Developing each individual’s mind/ideas—being innovative—not plagiarizing • This contrasts with • Valuing friendship over academic integrity (for example, “helping a friend” by providing answers on a test rather than seeing it as cheating) • Valuing accumulating points instead of accumulating knowledge • Honoring others by using their ideas in your writing (for example, assuming professors will know whose work you’re using without your making that clear)

9. Why Is Plagiarism a Concern at University? 2. Value of contributing to academic dialogue • Developing as an independent scholar means joining the “academic conversation” • Creating ideas and offering them to others to inspire them to create their own • What you write reflects what you learn and think and, thus, what you have to offer other scholars (adding to the sum of knowledge)

10. Why Is Plagiarism a Concern at University? 3. Reliability of grades • They’re a measure of learning • Tell professor how to adjust instruction • Tell transcript readers what you know and can do • They reflect the quality of one’s work • Reward for your effort, time, and work—a point of pride • Alert to areas in which more work is needed • They indicate one’s place in the academic community

11. How Do You Avoid Plagiarizing? • Ask professor for his/her expectations regarding working together, citing research, etc. • Study and practice proper citation • Keep notes during reading and research • Use MLA and APA format resources on-line • Seek advice at the Writing Center • When working together, do cooperate but don’t co-opt • Don’t copy others’ work • Help one anther, but don’t turn in identical work

12. How Do You Avoid Plagiarizing? • Quote • Quotations are the exact words of an author copied directly from the source, word for word. • Put quotations within quotation marks: “ ” • Cite the source of the information quoted (both within the text and at the end of the essay).

13. Example of Quoting The original is from a book by Joseph Smith written in 2004: My research project revealed that 78% of American males are not interested in buying music on-line. Quotation: A study by Smith (2004) showed that “78% of American males are not interested in buying music on-line.”

14. How Do You Avoid Plagiarizing? • Paraphrase • Paraphrasing means rephrasing the words of an author, putting his/her thoughts into your own words. • A paraphrase can be viewed as a “translation” of the original source. When you paraphrase, you rework the source’s ideas, words, phrases, and sentence structures with your own. • Paraphrased text is often slightly shorter than the original work. • Cite the source of the information paraphrased (both within the text and at the end of the essay).

15. Example of Paraphrasing The original is from a book by Joseph Smith written in 2004: My research project revealed that 78% of American males are not interested in buying music on-line. Paraphrase: The research of Smith (2004) shows that a majority of men in this country are unwilling to use the Internet to purchase music.

16. How Do You Avoid Plagiarizing? • Summarize • Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) of one or several writers into your own words, including only the main point(s). • Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the original material. • Cite the source of the information summarized (both within the text and at the end of the essay).

17. Example of Summarizing The original is from a book by Joseph Smith written in 2004: My research project revealed that 78% of American males are not interested in buying music on-line. Summary: Smith (2004) and other authors have shown in their research how reluctant American males are to use the Internet to make purchases.

18. Resources for You • Consult resources available on-line at iMoberg.com • Visit the Writing Center in the Academic Success Center (handout) • Attend Academic Success Center workshop (handout)

19. Academic Success Center We’re here to help you! Lower level of the Stoxen Library Please stop by!