How to avoid the plagiarism trap For Centennial High School Students and Teachers by Mrs. Mirka (Teacher Librarian) 2006.

How to avoid the How to avoid the plagiarism trapplagiarism trap

For Centennial High For Centennial High School Students and School Students and

TeachersTeachers

byby

Mrs. MirkaMrs. Mirka

(Teacher Librarian)(Teacher Librarian)

20062006

The basics…The basics…

Always cite your sourcesAlways cite your sources Know what “common Know what “common

knowledge” isknowledge” is Understand how to properly Understand how to properly

“borrow” ideas by paraphrasing, “borrow” ideas by paraphrasing, quoting and summarizing quoting and summarizing

Take really good notes!Take really good notes!

Do I have to cite

everything?

Nope! Nope!

Facts that are widely known, orFacts that are widely known, or Information or judgments considered Information or judgments considered

“common knowledge” “common knowledge”

Do Do NOTNOT have to be documented. have to be documented.

Hooray for common

knowledge!

Examples of common knowledgeExamples of common knowledge

Ralph Klein was elected Premier of Ralph Klein was elected Premier of Alberta in 1993 is common Alberta in 1993 is common knowledge. knowledge.

The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 is common on December 7, 1941 is common knowledgeknowledge

If you see a fact in three or more sources, and you are fairly certain

your readers already know this information,

it is likely to be “common knowledge.”

If you see a fact in three or more sources, and you are fairly certain

your readers already know this information,

it is likely to be “common knowledge.”

No need to document when:No need to document when:

You are discussing your own You are discussing your own experiences, observations, or experiences, observations, or reactionsreactions

Compiling the results of original Compiling the results of original research, from science research, from science experiments, etc.experiments, etc.

You are using You are using common common knowledgeknowledge

When in doubt, cite!!

You You cancan “borrow” from “borrow” from the works of the works of

others in your others in your own work!own work!

Use these three strategies,Use these three strategies,

ParaphrasingParaphrasingQuoting Quoting SummarizingSummarizing

To blend source materials in with your To blend source materials in with your own, making sure your own voice is own, making sure your own voice is

heard.heard.

What’s the big deal?What’s the big deal?

If I change a

few words, I’m

okay, right?

Wrong! Paraphrasing original ideas without

documentingyour source,

is plagiarism too!

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

ParaphrasingParaphrasing means rephrasing the words of an means rephrasing the words of an author, putting his/her thoughts in your own words. author, putting his/her thoughts in your own words. When you paraphrase, you rework the source’s When you paraphrase, you rework the source’s ideas, words, phrases, and sentence structures with ideas, words, phrases, and sentence structures with your own. Like quotations, paraphrased material your own. Like quotations, paraphrased material must be followed with in-text documentation and must be followed with in-text documentation and cited on your Works-Cited page. cited on your Works-Cited page.

Paraphrase when:Paraphrase when: You plan to use information on your note cards and You plan to use information on your note cards and

wish to avoid plagiarizing wish to avoid plagiarizing You want to avoid overusing quotationsYou want to avoid overusing quotations You want to use your own voice to present You want to use your own voice to present

informationinformation

Example of ParaphrasingExample of Paraphrasing

Original :Original :

MostMost of the extra body fat that Canadians carry – and of the extra body fat that Canadians carry – and thethe increasingincreasing incidence of Type 2 (adult-onset) incidence of Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes - is the result ofdiabetes - is the result of consumingconsuming too many too many carbohydrates and snacking in the evening.carbohydrates and snacking in the evening.

Paraphrase:Paraphrase:

The increase in obesity and diabetes reported among The increase in obesity and diabetes reported among Canadians has been linked to their excessive intake Canadians has been linked to their excessive intake of carbohydrates and poor eating habits. of carbohydrates and poor eating habits.

Paraphrasing does not mean playing with a few Paraphrasing does not mean playing with a few synonyms. You’ll have to use your own words and synonyms. You’ll have to use your own words and change the structure of the sentences to be able to change the structure of the sentences to be able to paraphrase. Even so, you’ll still need a citation to paraphrase. Even so, you’ll still need a citation to tell the reader the source of your inspirationtell the reader the source of your inspiration

Do you recognize this?Do you recognize this?

The teeny-weeny arachnidThe teeny-weeny arachnid

Ascended the down flow pipe:Ascended the down flow pipe:

Precipitation down flowPrecipitation down flow

Then gave the bug a swipeThen gave the bug a swipe(New Foundations, 2003)

Or this?Or this?

And if you ever And if you ever

Observed that snoutObserved that snout

You would contendYou would contend

That it emitted radiationThat it emitted radiation (New Foundations, 2003)(New Foundations, 2003)

QuotingQuoting

Quotations are the exact words of an author, Quotations are the exact words of an author, copied directly from a source, word for word. copied directly from a source, word for word. Quotations must be cited! Quotations must be cited!

Use quotations when:Use quotations when: You want to add the power of an author’s words to You want to add the power of an author’s words to

support your argumentsupport your argument You want to disagree with an author’s argumentYou want to disagree with an author’s argument You want to highlight particularly eloquent or You want to highlight particularly eloquent or

powerful phrases or passagespowerful phrases or passages You are comparing and contrasting specific points You are comparing and contrasting specific points

of viewof view You want to note the important research that You want to note the important research that

precedes your ownprecedes your own

Quotations: 40 words or lessQuotations: 40 words or less

Incorporate as part of the paperIncorporate as part of the paper Use “quotation marks”Use “quotation marks” Give page numberGive page number

He confirms our suspicions: He confirms our suspicions: “Because N-Gen children are born “Because N-Gen children are born with technology, they assimilate it. with technology, they assimilate it. Adults must accommodate – a Adults must accommodate – a different and much more difficult different and much more difficult learning process” (Tapscott, 1998, learning process” (Tapscott, 1998, p.40).p.40).

Quotations: Quotations: More than 40 wordsMore than 40 words No quotation marksNo quotation marks Start quote on a new line, indent 5 spaces, indent each lineStart quote on a new line, indent 5 spaces, indent each line

At the conclusion of At the conclusion of Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies, Golding has Ralph and the , Golding has Ralph and the other boys realize the horror of their actions:other boys realize the horror of their actions:

The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave

himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great

shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole

body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the

burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion,

the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (p.186)the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (p.186)

SummarizingSummarizing

Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) of one or several writers into your own words, of one or several writers into your own words, including only the main point(s). Summaries including only the main point(s). Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material. take a broad overview of the source material. Again, it is necessary to attribute summarized Again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to their original sources.ideas to their original sources.

Summarize when: Summarize when:

You want to establish background or offer an overview of a topicYou want to establish background or offer an overview of a topic You want to describe knowledge (from several sources) about a You want to describe knowledge (from several sources) about a

topictopic You want to determine the main ideas of a single sourceYou want to determine the main ideas of a single source

Finally…as you take notes:Finally…as you take notes:

Include any direct quotes or unique Include any direct quotes or unique phrases in quotation marks or mark phrases in quotation marks or mark with a big with a big Q Q and make sure the and make sure the speaker’s /writer’s name is identified.speaker’s /writer’s name is identified.

Make sure you note a paraphrase Make sure you note a paraphrase with the writer’s name and mark it with the writer’s name and mark it with a big with a big PP

Include page numbers and source Include page numbers and source references so you can go back and references so you can go back and check for accuracy as you write.check for accuracy as you write.

This is the end of the This is the end of the slide presentationslide presentation