WHERE IS THE
LINE
BETWEEN
PARAPHRASING
AND
PLAGIARISM?
Finding and
staying
on the path to
honorable
academic work
Did You Know? The word
plagiarism comes from
the Latin plagiarius
meaning "kidnapper“.
3
What is the
definition of
Plagiarism?
Stealing another’s
ideas, thoughts or
words, whether
purposefully, or
“accidentally” is called
plagiarism.
What are the
causes of
Plagiarism?
The purpose of this
presentation is to
eliminate any lack of
knowledge about
plagiarism so
students can avoid it.
The Causes of Plagiarism
Begin with
A lack of
knowledge and
inexperience.
The Causes of Plagiarism
Include: A lack of
understanding of
academic integrity
which is one of our
most important
values.
The Causes of Plagiarism
Include: A lack of
time and/or student
procrastination
leading to sloppy work
and illegal shortcuts.
The Causes of Plagiarism
Include: Student
deception caused
by laziness.
Crossing the line
to Plagiarism
let us first define
paraphrasing and
plagiarism, its causes
and ramifications.
Paraphrase
Definition
A writer paraphrases
whenever they put
another’s idea into
their own words.
Citing and referencing
 When
a writer refers to another
person or institution by use of
direct quotations or not; is
referencing.
A
writer cites a source when
they formally give credit to
another person or institution in
footnotes and or on the works
cited page.
Plagiarism caused by a
lack of citation

A writers failure to use
citations to indicate which
ideas are obtained from
someone else, effectively claim
those ideas as their own, even
if that isn’t the intention.
Remember a citation is more
than simple referencing and
requires a footnote on the
Works Cited Page.
Plagiarism
Penalties
Plagiarism is a
serious academic
offense that can
result in failure
suspension or even
expulsion.
Plagiarism includes, but is
not limited to:
Failing to cite
ideas,
expressions or
paraphrases
that aren’t
one’s own.
Copying phrases and
sentences, or
paragraphs verbatim
without citing the
source.
Example: cutting and
pasting from Internet
or other sources.
Plagiarism includes, but
is not limited to:
Replacing a
source’s
original words
with
synonyms.
Copying or
mimicking a
source’s
sentence
structure.
Plagiarism includes, but is
not limited to:
Structuring an
essay in a similar
way without
crediting the
original author (if
the ideas used and
the conclusion
reached is similar).
Submitting
essays or parts
of essays
written by
others as one’s
own.
Other Forms of Plagiarism
Copying work
from other
students in
class or out is
plagiarism.
Meaning, if two or
more students do
one assignment,
then print or copy
the work who then
proceed to turn it
in as individual
work. This is
plagiarism. All who
turn in such work
are guilty of
plagiarism.
You may have been told that if
you put something into your
own words, you need not cite.
This is incorrect. The material
is still someone else’s idea and
requires acknowledgement.
Paraphrasing requires a
citation.
A Quiz
Use your own paper
Answer questions in
complete sentences.
Plagiarism quiz
1. What is a citation?
Plagiarism quiz
2. What is the difference
between referencing a
source and citing a
source?
Plagiarism quiz
3.
Must a writer put
anything used from
another source in
quotation marks?
Explain why or why
not.
Plagiarism quiz
4.What is one way of
attributing (giving
credit for) a quotation
to another person or
source?

Compare the following
passages, An original
Passage and student
responses.

Decide if the student
responses are acceptable
or plagiarism. Explain why
it is acceptable or
plagiarism.
A passage from John Steinbeck's’
The Grapes of Wrath compared to a
student paraphrase.
The following are
John Steinbeck’s
words
John Steinbeck’s Words
 Rose of Sharon’s capacity
to sustain life, paired with
her suffering and grief for
her dead child likes her to
the Virgin Mary and
suggests that there is hope
to be found even in the
bleakest of circumstances.
5
Is this student produced
passage plagiarism or
acceptable paraphrasing?

One writer compares
Rose of Sharon to the
Virgin Mary because both
women lost Children but
continue to offer hope to
others.
5 Compare the two
passages side by side


Steinbeck’s original
Rose of Sharon’s
capacity to sustain
life, paired with her
suffering and grief
for her dead child
likes her to the
Virgin Mary and
suggest that there is
hope to be found even
in the bleakest of
circumstances.


Student work
One writer
compares Rose of
Sharon to the
Virgin Mary
because both
women lost
children but
continue to offer
hope to others.
6 Is this student produced
passage plagiarism or
acceptable paraphrasing?
Since Rose of Sharon keeps
giving life, and since she is
upset about her stillborn
baby, she is similar to the
Virgin Mary. This similarity
suggests that hope can
always be found no matter
what.
6
Compare the two
passages side by side
Steinbeck’s original


Rose of Sharon’s
capacity to sustain
life, paired with her
suffering and grief
for her dead child
likes her to the
Virgin Mary and
suggest that there
is hope to be found
even in the bleakest
of circumstances.
 Student work

Since Rose of Sharon
keeps giving life, and
since she is upset about
her stillborn baby, she
is similar to the Virgin
Mary. This similarity
suggests that hope can
always be found no
matter what.
Personal and Academic
Honor

This matter is one of personal and
academic honor. Honorable students do
not besmirch their reputation due
laziness, or by thinking they will get
away with cheating.
Sadly, If you do get away with
plagiarism, congratulations, you have
succeeded in become a cheater -certainly a worthy accomplishment.
This is where all plagiarism
belongs
Answers to
quiz
questions
Answers to Question One
A citation is credit given to someone for use
of their ideas and work that supports the
author’s writing. For example, credit is
given to an author whose writing is quoted,
or a person quoted in an interview. A source
may be an individual or institution such as
Newsweek magazine, A newspaper, or an
Internet site that provides information.
 Formal citations provides footnoted name,
publications and dates. Informal citations
may provide only name and or the source
publication.
Answer Question Two
Referencing is a standardized
way of identifying sources of
information used in academic
writing. Further, it is a way to
"get permission" from the
author to use her/his ideas by
acknowledging the fact that
s(he) is the owner of these
ideas.
Answers Question Three

Only exact words of a source are put
in quotation marks.

If one says, Abraham Lincoln said,
“Four Score and seven years ago …”
Quotation marks must be used in
citations.
If one writes, ”In a great speech one
President mentioned how things
were like they had been 87 years
earlier…” quotation marks are not
required yet the context requires a
citation.

Answer Question Four

Quotation marks must be used when
quoting a sources exact words.

A writer is guilty of plagiarism any
time they use another’s ideas
without citation. The purpose of
works cited footnotes and
bibliography is to provide authors the
opportunity to cite sources and
inspirations.
Answer Question Five

The opening phrase says, “One
Writer Compares ….”
 The author clearly states that the


words are those of another and
does not accept credit for the
thinking involved.
Since it is a paraphrase there are no
quotations marks.
It is not plagiarism.
Answer Question Six



Since the two passages are not
word for word, it is appropriate
that there are not quotation
marks.
However, sentence structure,
syntax and wording and ideas
in both passages are so similar
as to be identical.
It is plagiarism.


You have answered six
questions that should help
you understand plagiarism.
You are now responsible for
any plagiarism that is
turned in under your
name.
The End?
Now that you know how
easy is it to identify
plagiarism? You can avoid
it.