|
| What it is and how to avoid it! |
What is plagiarism?
- A form of cheating
- Presenting the words or ideas of someone else (anyone else!) as if they were your own
- Plagiarism is sometimes unintentional (accidental) and sometimes intentional (on purpose)
|
Unintentional plagiarism:
- Forgetting to cite your sources in your paper
- Citing sources incorrectly or inaccurately (didn’t keep accurate records in your notes)
- Second-language writers attempting to avoid grammatical errors by copying sentences or paragraphs without quoting or citing them
|
|
Intentional plagiarism:
- Cutting & pasting or copying sentences or paragraphs from a source without quoting and citing them
- Presenting paraphrased information from a source without citing it
- Copying a paper from a friend or online paper mill such as cheathouse.com (Yes, your teachers know about sites like this.)
|
What about Common Knowledge?
Facts that are considered to be common knowledge do not have to be cited. For example, the name of the Prime Minister of Malaysia is commonly known and does not have to be cited. |
Consequences
- At ISKL: See page 14 of the Middle School Handbook
- Outside ISKL: Anything from suspension or expulsion, loss of reputation, loss of credit, inability to graduate, or loss of job or career
- For you: You cheat yourself of the opportunity to learn and practice how to make sense of information for yourself, and present it in your own way.
- This could really disadvantage you later in life!
|
How to Avoid Plagiarism
Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism
- Take very careful notes. Always include information about your source on the same page or card as the note (Author, title, page number).
- Begin your works cited list as soon as you start taking notes.
- Keep track of what kind of notes you are taking. For example, identify if your note is a direct quote, a paraphrase or summary, or if it is your own thought or idea.
- If this is too complicated, only use direct quotes in your notes and include the page number where the quote comes from. This way, even if you decide to paraphrase in your paper, you will always know that your notes are direct quotes.
|
Avoiding Intentional Plagiarism
- DON’T DO IT. If you are feeling pressured for time, don’t understand the assignment, are struggling to understand the topic or are worried about your grades PLEASE TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT, LIKE YOUR TEACHER, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR COUNSELOR OR YOUR LIBRARIAN. We are all here to help you be successful in your work.
|
Additional Helpful Resources:
Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It (from Indiana University Writing Tutorial Services) This contains helpful examples of acceptable and unacceptable paraphrases.
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml#original
|
For more in-depth information, see the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. It is available in the library (REF 808 GIB or at the librarian’s desk).
Did you know? The word plagiarism is derived from the Latin word “plagiarius” meaning “kidnapper.”
|
