Plagiarism:
What it is and Why it matters
Camilla J. Roberts
Honor and Integrity System
What do you know so far?
 Original version: In analyzing the culture of a particular group or
organization it is desirable to distinguish three fundamental levels
at which culture manifests itself: (a) observable artifacts, (b)
values, and (c) basic underlying assumptions.
 Source: Schein, E.H. (1990). Organizational culture. American
Psychologist, 45(2), 109-119.
 Student's Version: Values and observations are two tools that might
help me in observing the group I will investigate in this study.
 Is this Plagiarism?
http://www.lib.umd.edu/shadygrove/plagiarism.html
YES
Paraphrased without citing the source!
 Original version: The University counts among its greatest strengths
and a major component of its excellence the diversity of its faculty,
students, and staff...It strives to hire a diverse faculty and staff of
exceptional achievement through affirmative action, to celebrate
diversity in all of its programs and activities, and to recruit and retain
qualified graduate and undergraduate minority students.
 Source: Excerpt from the University of Maryland Mission Statement. Retrieved
April 11, 2006 from:
http://www.provost.umd.edu/Strategic_Planning/Mission2000.html
 Student's Version: Although some may feel hiring diverse faculty
members is not a priority for universities, many schools claim that they
strive to hire diverse faculty and staff of exceptional achievement.
 Is this plagiarism?
http://www.lib.umd.edu/shadygrove/plagiarism.html
YES
Word-for-word without citing the source!
 Original version: Thurgood Marshall's rise to power played out against
the backdrop of America's tempestuous history of slavery, Jim Crow
segregation, and the civil rights movement...Any attempt to know
Thurgood Marshall had to start with his family and his hometown. His
defiance of segregation, his willingness to stand up to powerful whites,
and his insistence that he was the equal of any man were rooted in his
Baltimore family.
 Source: Williams, J. (1998). Thurgood Marshall: American revolutionary. New York:
Three Rivers Press.
 Student's version: Not all powerful leaders come from a place of power
and privilege. On his way to becoming the first African American
Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall overcame racism and
segregation to assert his equality and his rights (Williams, 1998).
 Is this plagiarism?
http://www.lib.umd.edu/shadygrove/plagiarism.html
NO
Paraphrased and cited the source!
Plagiarism Overview
 Various types of Plagiarism
 Overall – not giving appropriate credit to the person or
persons who originally developed the thoughts and ideas.
 Plagiarism focuses on both published and unpublished
material.
 Instructors want to know what YOU think in response to
what you have read – not exactly what you have read.
Types of Plagiarism
 Word-for-Word
 Mosaic
 Word Switch
 Metaphor
 Paraphrase without Citation
 Idea Plagiarism and Common Knowledge
 Pattern, Organization, or Structure of Arguments and Ideas
 Submitting Someone Else’s Work
Original Text
 “Every time you smile at a messenger, laugh at a coworker’s
joke, thank an assistant, or treat a stranger with graciousness
and respect, you throw off positive energy. That energy
makes an impression on the other person that, in turn, is
passed along to and imprinted on the myriad others he or she
meets. Such imprints have a multiplier effect. And
ultimately, those favorable impressions find their way back to
you” (Thaler & Koval, 2006, p.6).
Thaler, L.K. & Koval, R. (2006). The Power of Nice. New York, NY: Doubleday.
Word-for-Word
 Every time you smile at a
messenger, thank an assistant,
or treat a stranger with
respect, you throw off
positive energy.
 Every time you smile at a
messenger, laugh at a coworker’s
joke, thank an assistant, or treat
a stranger with graciousness and
respect, you throw off positive
energy. That energy makes an
impression on the other person
that, in turn, is passed along to
and imprinted on the myriad
others he or she meets. Such
imprints have a multiplier effect.
And ultimately, those favorable
impressions find their way back to
you.
Mosaic
 Positive energy coming from
when you smile at a
messenger or thank an
assistant makes an
impression. In turn, this is
imprinted on others and will
find their way back to you.
 Every time you smile at a
messenger, laugh at a coworker’s
joke, thank an assistant, or treat
a stranger with graciousness and
respect, you throw off positive
energy. That energy makes an
impression on the other person
that, in turn, is passed along to
and imprinted on the myriad
others he or she meets. Such
imprints have a multiplier effect.
And ultimately, those favorable
impressions find their way back to
you.
Picture from: http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2007/03/project-shakermosaic-update.html
Word Switch
 The energy makes an impact
on the other person that, in
turn, is passed along to the
various others he meets.
 Every time you smile at a
messenger, laugh at a coworker’s
joke, thank an assistant, or treat
a stranger with graciousness and
respect, you throw off positive
energy. That energy makes an
impression on the other person
that, in turn, is passed along to
and imprinted on the myriad
others he or she meets. Such
imprints have a multiplier effect.
And ultimately, those favorable
impressions find their way back to
you.
Metaphor Plagiarism
 Positive energy can come
from a laugh of a co-worker’s
joke.
 Every time you smile at a
messenger, laugh at a coworker’s
joke, thank an assistant, or treat
a stranger with graciousness and
respect, you throw off positive
energy. That energy makes an
impression on the other person
that, in turn, is passed along to
and imprinted on the myriad
others he or she meets. Such
imprints have a multiplier effect.
And ultimately, those favorable
impressions find their way back to
you.
Paraphrase without citation
 In time, an individual’s
positive energy which was
transferred to those he came
into contact with will come
back to the original
individual.
 Every time you smile at a
messenger, laugh at a coworker’s
joke, thank an assistant, or treat
a stranger with graciousness and
respect, you throw off positive
energy. That energy makes an
impression on the other person
that, in turn, is passed along to
and imprinted on the myriad
others he or she meets. Such
imprints have a multiplier effect.
And ultimately, those favorable
impressions find their way back to
you.
Idea Plagiarism versus Common
Knowledge
 Positive energy is generated
from a smile, a laugh, or
respect of another person.
 Every time you smile at a
messenger, laugh at a coworker’s
joke, thank an assistant, or treat
a stranger with graciousness and
respect, you throw off positive
energy. That energy makes an
impression on the other person
that, in turn, is passed along to
and imprinted on the myriad
others he or she meets. Such
imprints have a multiplier effect.
And ultimately, those favorable
impressions find their way back to
you.
Pattern, Organization, or Structure of
Arguments and Ideas
 Positive energy is generated
by smiles, laughter, and
generosity. As a person meets
others, they receive that
energy and the energy
multiplies until it comes back
to the original person.
 Every time you smile at a
messenger, laugh at a coworker’s
joke, thank an assistant, or treat
a stranger with graciousness and
respect, you throw off positive
energy. That energy makes an
impression on the other person
that, in turn, is passed along to
and imprinted on the myriad
others he or she meets. Such
imprints have a multiplier effect.
And ultimately, those favorable
impressions find their way back to
you.
Submitting Someone else’s work
 Previous Students
 Buying papers online
 Working together
 Having someone write a
paper for you
Tips to Avoid Plagiarism
 Work ahead of time so you have plenty of time to complete
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the assignment
Read a passage, close the book, and then begin writing
Read a passage, translate it into your native language, write a
paraphrase in your native language, then translate it back to
English.
Use resources on campus (writing labs, tutors, etc)
Cite correctly (APA or MLA formatting)
If in doubt, cite the material.
Why it Matters…
 K-State Honor and Integrity Council
 Report filed with the office
 If found responsible (whether you meant to plagiarize or
not), you could have a wide variety of penalties (warning, XF
in the class, another class to take, or suspension/removal
from the university)
Learn and Pay Attention Now
 Severity of penalties based on how long someone has been at
K-State (or age of individual)
 As you teach others, it is important they realize the
consequences of actions.
K-State Honor and Integrity System
 http://www.ksu.edu/honor
 honor@ksu.edu
 532-2595
 215 Fairchild Hall