PLAGIARISM – DON’T DO IT!!!

1. PLAGIARISM – DON’T DO IT!!! A presentation of the MdN LRTCMrs. Sheila Walrath, Media Specialist

2. District Policy The District Governing Board has made the following changes to its policies regarding student plagiarism: • Plagiarism is now listed as a punishable offense in each school’s discipline policy. • Plagiarism is now specified as a violation in the Technology Use Agreement signed by all students and their parents. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

3. Plagiarism: What is it? List as many examples of plagiarismas you can think of. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

4. Plagiarism…what is it? Based on the examples you brainstormed, what is your definition of plagiarism? Here’s Webster’s definitionPlagiarism (After you view the above link, use the back button of yourbrowser to return to this presentation.) A presentation of the MdN LRTC

5. Plagiarism can also be defined as… cheating or deception. If you attempt to use another person's work as if it were your own, without adequate acknowledgement of the original source; and if this is done in work that you submit for a grade then you are attempting to deceive your teacher, your parents, or anyone reading the paper. In other words, plagiarism is cheating and it is deceitful in that you are trying to claim the credit for something that is not your work. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

6. Why is plagiarism wrong? *If you plagiarize, you are cheating yourself. You don't learn to write out your thoughts in your own words, and you don't get specific feedback geared to your individual needs and skills. Plagiarism is dishonest because it misrepresents the work of another as your own. *Unintentional plagiarism is still cheating. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

7. Is it really such a big problem? According to the website Plagiarism.org “Recent studies indicate that approximately 30 percent of all students may be plagiarizing on every written assignment they complete.” According to that same site, the problem is extensive in Arizona. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

8. Catching the plagiarist The internet has made plagiarism easier with access to term paper mills, search engines, encyclopedias, etc. In response, websites have been developed which help teachers analyze papers and develop strategies to prevent plagiarism. Some sites are: http://www.turnitin.com/ http://www.millikin.edu/wcenter/plagiarism3.html A presentation of the MdN LRTC

9. Guidelines for avoiding plagiarism Use your own words and ideas. Give credit for copied, adapted, or paraphrased material. Avoid using others' work with minor "cosmetic" changes. There are no "freebies." Beware of "common knowledge." A presentation of the MdN LRTC

10. Guidelines for avoiding plagiarism Use your own words and ideas. • This is a skill that improves with practice. • It requires an under- standing of the topic • It requires that you give yourself credit for your own abilities. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

11. Guidelines for avoiding plagiarism Give credit for copied, adapted, or paraphrased material. • If you repeat another's exact words, you MUST use quotation marks and cite the source. • If you adapt a chart or paraphrase a sentence, you must still cite. • Paraphrase means that you restate the author's ideas, meaning, and information in your own words WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

12. Guidelines for avoiding plagiarism Avoid using others' work with minor "cosmetic" changes. Examples: using "less" for "fewer," reversing the order of a sentence, changing terms in a computer code, or altering a spread sheet layout. If the work is essentially the same, give credit. WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

13. Guidelines for avoiding plagiarism There are no "freebies." ALWAYS cite words, information, and ideas you use if they are new to you (learned in your research). No matter where you find it – even in an encyclopedia or on the Internet – you cite it. WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

14. Guidelines for avoiding plagiarism Beware of "common knowledge." You don't have to cite "common knowledge,“ BUT the fact must really be commonly known. That George Washington was the first U.S. president is common knowledge; That George Washington was an expert dancer is not common knowledge WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

15. How do I cite the sources? If you wish to avoid accusations of plagiarism, you must cite your sources properly. Several websites exist which can help you. We suggest that you follow the examples listed in your school’s website. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

16. In conclusion, don’t get paranoid But when you present a work for a grade: • It must be entirely your own work, written by you in your own words, and containing your own interpretations, ideas, approaches etc. • It must state clearly where you got other people's words or major ideas. • It must state clearly where you got your charts, diagrams, photos, graphics, and media (including sound, video and digital images. A presentation of the MdN LRTC

17. Plagiarism Trying to claim the credit for something that is not your work. PLAGIARISM – DON’T DO IT!!! A presentation of the MdN LRTC

18. Recommended Resources • http://www.hamilton.edu/academic/Resource/WC/AvoidingPlagiarism.html • http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/plagiarism.html • http://www.virtualsalt.com/antiplag.htm • http://alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/~janicke/plagiary.htm A presentation of the MdN LRTC

19. Sources Cited • “Avoiding Plagiarism.” Virtual Writing Center. 8 August 2001. <http://www.madison.tec.wi.us/is/writingcenter/plagarism.htm> • “Avoiding Plagiarism: Mastering the Art of Scholarship.” UCDavis Student Judicial Affairs. 2001. 8 August 2001. <http://sja.ucdavis.edu/avoid.htm> • Plagiarism.org. 8 August 2001. <www.plagiarism.org> A presentation of the MdN LRTC