Plagiarism
Let's start with a basic definition: Plagiarism means taking words or ideas from a source without documenting them.
Words:
any words (even one or two) taken from a source and included in your
own work need to be in quotation marks and documented. There may
exceptions to this (common knowledge), but when in doubt, use quotation
marks and document or check with your instructor.
Ideas: when you
get an idea from source, be it from an article, lecture, person, etc.,
it must be documented – even if you put it in your own words (and if
you use the same words, they must be in quotation marks).
Source: the person, book, article from which you obtained information.
Documenting:
following a particular documentation/citation style such as MLA or APA
to let the reader know where you acquired your information.
Avoiding Plagiarism (General)
Question: “I got a paper off the internet – but I changed it around. That’s okay, right?”
Answer:
No. When teachers assign essays, they expect you to complete the work
yourself. This would be a form of plagiarism and result in an F for the
assignment and possibly for the course.
Solution: Write your own draft.
Question: “I got my best friend/aunt/cousin – who’s an English Major – to help me with my essay. That’s okay, right?”
Answer:
Maybe. The problem with this kind of help is that too often it involves
your friend/aunt/cousin doing too much of the writing. This could be a
form of plagiarism – you’re taking the words and ideas of your
friend/aunt/cousin. Since the instructor can’t separate your work from
your “helper’s,” the grade is often an F.
Solution: Go to your instructor or one of the college’s tutors for help.
Question: “I borrowed a bit of code from an existing program for a class assignment. That’s okay, right?”
Answer: Probably wrong. Just like writing, computer codes are subject to copyright protection. See above for grade.
Solution: Develop your own code – and check with your instructor.
Question:
“In my creative writing/music/art class, I based my project on another
story/song/artwork I found – but I pretty much changed it around.”
Answer:
Probably wrong. While much art is based on what’s come before it, most
class projects involve developing your own work. See above for grade.
Solution: Focus on your own talents – and check with your instructor for specifics.
Citing Sources (specific examples)
Now
we get to more specific questions/examples about citing sources and
avoiding plagiarism. Below, you’ll see two short paragraphs from Mother
Jones magazine, and below that, some questions on how you might use it
in an essay. Citations below are in MLA format.
Under a
Defense Department policy initiated in 1993, U.S. taxpayers must cover
the merger costs for the consolidation of defense corporations. The
tally so far has reached $856.2 million, including $405 million for the
Lockheed/Martin Marietta merger, to name one example. Because of the
policy, Lockheed was able to bill the Pentagon up front for $2.4
million for CEO Norman Augustine's salary.
In 1996 Congress
created the Defense Export Loan Guarantee program to finance U.S.
weapons sales to foreign countries. Its first beneficiary? A United
Industrial sale of pilotless aircraft and training systems to
cash-strapped Romania. If Romania defaults on its payments (not a bad
bet for a country in economic turmoil), U.S. taxpayers will be left
holding the bag: $16.7 million. United Industrial will get paid either
way.
"Corporate Welfare." Mother Jones March/April 1999: 15. Print
From student’s essay
Unbelievably, U.S. taxpayers must cover the merger costs for the consolidation of defense corporations.
Question: “I put this sentence in my essay – is this okay?”
Answer:
No. You’ve used the exact wording from the source and haven’t
documented the source. If done even once, this could result in an F.
Solution: You need to include quotation marks and citation.
From student’s essay
Unbelievably, U.S. taxpayers must cover the merger costs for the consolidation of defense corporations (“Corporate” 15).
Question: “Okay, I added the citation – is this okay?”
Answer:
Not yet. Good job of adding the citation, but the reader will think you
came up with this wording. If done even once, this could substantially
lower your grade.
Solution: You need to include quotation marks.
From student’s essay
Unbelievably, “U.S. taxpayers must cover the merger costs for the consolidation of defense corporations” (“Corporate” 15).
Question: “This is right . . . right?”
Answer: Right. You’ve marked the specific words you’ve taken from your source with quotation marks and have cited it.
From student’s essay
Unbelievably, we have to pay defense companies when they merge.
Question: “Since this is a summary, I don’t need to cite it, right?”
Answer:
Wrong. Since you learned of this information from a source, it must be
cited. Again, this could substantially lower your grade.
Solution: Add a citation.
Unbelievably, we have to pay defense companies when they merge (“Corporate” 15).
You
should now have a basic understanding of what plagiarism is and how to
avoid it. For more information refer to the Student Handbook –
specifically the “Cheating and Plagiarism Policy” and “Academic
Honesty” sections under the heading “Academic Information and
Regulations.”
For more detailed information on citing sources, go to either the MLA or APA page on this site.