PLAGIARISM
A “how to” workshop
^
Lupton Library, Fall 2013
WHAT IS PLAGIARISM?
Stealing?
WHAT IS PLAGIARISM?
Plagiarism is the act of presenting
another person’s words, work, or
ideas as if they are your own.
It’s fraud. Not theft.
THE UTC HONOR CODE
I pledge that I will neither give nor receive unauthorized
aid on any test or assignment. I understand that
plagiarism constitutes a serious instance of unauthorized
aid. I further pledge that I will exert every effort to insure
that the Honor Code is upheld by others and that I will
actively support the establishment and continuance of a
campus-wide climate of honor and integrity.
THE UTC HONOR CODE
I pledge that I will neither give nor receive unauthorized
aid on any test or assignment. I understand that
plagiarism constitutes a serious instance of unauthorized
aid. I further pledge that I will exert every effort to insure
that the Honor Code is upheld by others and that I will
actively support the establishment and continuance of a
campus-wide climate of honor and integrity.
PENALTIES?
The best case?
You fail the assignment
PENALTIES?
The worst case?
You fail the course
^
PENALTIES?
The REAL worst case?
1st offense: disciplinary probation
2nd offense: suspended from UTC
rd
3 offense: expulsion
PENALTIES?
Those are just the minimum penalties.
PENALTIES?
Also...UTC will not let you withdraw
from a class if an Honor Court hearing
is pending.
PENALTIES?
Why so harsh?
What’s the risk?
But, really, how is my professor going
to find out?
What’s the risk?
1. Online plagiarism detection
2. Inappropriate references
3. Language
What’s the risk?
“My opnion is that we should stop all the
freaking out about marijuna and just let people live
there lives. The morbidity, mortality, and economic
costs to society associated with alcohol and
tobacco use in the United States dwarf those
associated with marijuana use. So its alcohol and
beer and wine that should be outlawed, not
marijuna.”
Joffe, A., & Yancy, W. S. (2004). Legalization of marijuana: potential impact on youth. Pediatrics,
113(6), e632-e638.
What’s the risk?
1. Online plagiarism detection
2. Inappropriate references
3. Language
4. Your professors are experts
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Let’s look at several examples
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Case #1: Waldo’s book review
Did Waldo plagiarize?
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Yes.
Waldo quoted the book review without
acknowledging the original source.
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Case #2: The capital of Kyrgyzstan
Did Marsha plagiarize?
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
No.
You don’t need to provide a citation for
common knowledge.
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Common knowledge doesn’t mean
that everyone knows it.
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Common knowledge refers to stable,
well-documented, non-controversial
facts about the world.
Easy rule: if you could find it in a high
school textbook, then it’s probably
common knowledge.
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Case #3: “My paper; I can do what I want.”
Did Bonnie plagiarize?
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Yes.
Bonnie didn’t copy words, but she did
copy ideas.
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Case #4: The study partners
Did either Lisa or Stephanie plagiarize?
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Yes.
Any time you present someone else’s
ideas as if they were your own, you are
plagiarizing.
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
Case #5: The literature review
Did Jane plagiarize?
IS IT PLAGIARISM?
No.
Jane has properly cited the source for
the information that she’s using in her
paper.
AVOIDING
PLAGIARISM
AVOIDING PLAGIARISM
1. Understand the difference between
quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing.
See the Writing Center for help
AVOIDING PLAGIARISM
1. Understand the difference between
quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing.
2. Use a consistent citation style.
Get a style guide.
Visit the Purdue OWL.
See the Library for help.
AVOIDING PLAGIARISM
1. Understand the difference between
quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing.
2. Use a consistent citation style.
3. Keep track of every source you look at.
Notecards, EndNote, etc.
AVOIDING PLAGIARISM
1. Understand the difference between
quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing.
2. Use a consistent citation style.
3. Keep track of every source you look at.
4. When in doubt...ask!
The Library is here to help!
PLAGIARISM
A “how to” workshop
^
Lupton Library, Fall 2013