Slide 1

At a loss for words? 214 Evans Library | 205 West Campus Library

writingcenter.tamu.edu | 979-458-1455

Howdy. My name is __________, and I work at the University Writing Center. We are available to all TAMU students to help with any writing project. You can find out more about us by asking me, or by visiting our Web site at writingcenter.tamu.edu.

[If you have time, talk about the hours and locations of the UWC]

1Avoiding Plagiarism

2Today were going to work together to figure out what, exactly, plagiarism is and how you can avoid it. How many of you think you have a concrete grasp of the causes and consequences of plagiarism? (Usually not many people raise their hands) How many of you are still a little confused? Hopefully today well clear up some gray areas and misconceptions. If you still have questions after the presentation, feel free to ask me or visit the UWC.

Now were going to start off with a little activity. Im going to play you a song, and you tell me what it is. Ready?Name that tune!

3[Click the blue music button and play the song until someone guesses.]

[Correct answer: Diamonds are Forever by Shirley Bassey If no one gets it, dont reveal it.]Name that tune!

4[THIS IS THE SECOND MUSIC SLIDE! Click the blue button and wait for guesses. The audience usually knows by now who has written this song.]

[Correct answer: Diamonds from Sierra Leone by Kanye West]

The ArtistsDiamonds are Forever Shirley Bassey1971Diamonds from Sierra LeoneKanye West2005

www.cardiffians.co.uk/.../shirleybasseytml www.thesunblog.com/frosting/archives/2007/09/5[If the audience guessed correctly, quickly congratulate them]

In the first song, Shirley Bassey is talking about how diamonds are a luxury item. She says, Diamonds are forever / they are all I need to please me / Diamonds never lie to me / when loves gone, theyll luster on.She is talking about how diamonds are better than love. Theyre reliable, beautiful, a sign of wealth.

In Kanye (pronounced khan-yay) Wests song, hes talking about dealing with poverty and hardship (I think). He says, I remember I couldn't afford a Ford Escort or even a four-track recorder

So, Kanye is using Basseys song to begin his own conversation. Hes not agreeing with her message, but hes using it to support his own claim that maybe diamonds arent forever. Hes saying that Bassey claims that diamonds (and material things and wealth) are all you need. He retorts by saying that all that wealth comes at a price (such as the blood diamonds coming out of Sierra Leone).

Name that tune!

6[Click the blue button and wait for guesses]

[Correct answer: Georgia on my Mind by Ray Charles]

Name that tune!

7Click the button and wait for guesses]

[Correct answer: Georgia by Field Mob, featuring Ludacris Most people will just guess Ludacris, so accept that as an answer]

Georgia on my MindRay Charles1960

GeorgiaField Mob feat. Ludacris2005

http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time/306x306/ray-charles.jpg

http://smartsexyrichcrazy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/ludacris-fsh.jpg8

The Artists[Quickly congratulate again]

In his song, Ray Charles is talking about how much he loves Georgia. He says, Still in peaceful dreams I see, the road leads back to you. He sees Georgia as a place where he finds peace and joy.

In his song, however, Ludacris uses what Ray Charles says to start a conversation. It's mean in the dirty south. If you ever disrespect it then we'll clean out your dirty mouth. You gotta be brave in the state of... Georgia. Hes comparing the way Georgia was for Ray Charles to the way it is for him. Hes talking about how times have changed by reminding us of how Georgia was viewed by some (Ray Charles) in the 60s and comparing that view to the view he has now. So, again, hes using Charles song to support his idea that things have changed. Its not just dropped in because it sounds good or because theyre both talking about the same state. Its there to create a comparison between the Georgia of the past and the Georgia of the present.

So what did the modern-day artists have in common? They used old songs to create something new, and they had permission to do so. Now lets listen to one last set of songs.8

Name that tune!

9[Click the button and wait for guesses]

[Correct answer: Under Pressure by Queen]

Name that tune!

10[Click the button and wait for guesses]

[Correct answer: Ice, Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice]

Under PressureQueen & David Bowie1981

Ice Ice BabyVanilla Ice1990

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_L0EDrCiS6pE/SdRfRhJmP-I/AAAAAAAABiU/oiQgK1uJdbw/s400/39c6bb676e59affd4f97a4f805b71a72.jpghttp://capitalistliontamer.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/iceman.jpg11The ArtistsVanilla Ice did NOT ask for permission to use Queens music, and there were legal repercussions. Plagiarism is a lot like this; granted, you probably wont face a multi-million dollar lawsuit for missing a citation, but the academic consequences can still be pretty severe.

Also, Vanilla Ice doesnt use Queens music for any particular reason. It has nothing to do with his song. There is no conversation happening here. He just thought it sounded cool so he dropped in there just because. 11While researching for your paper on dance club music sales, you find a chart that supports your main argument. You download the chart and add it to your paper without documenting the source. 12

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Billboard+charts&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1621&bih=853&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=I8rfvsiXda9ATM:&imgrefurl=http://imaginepeace.com/archives/5495&docid=yvbxDAXYnEWjZM&imgurl=http://imaginepeace.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/billboard-chart.jpg&w=499&h=799&ei=jF3_T66VM6Si2gXP9s2hBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1405&vpy=147&dur=158&hovh=284&hovw=177&tx=141&ty=168&sig=106090041932312229745&page=1&tbnh=147&tbnw=91&start=0&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:162iz-khalifa-hip-hop-rookie-of-the-year/Is This Plagiarism?Now well have a little quiz.

While researching data for your paper on hip-hop music sales, you find a chart that defends your main argument. You download the chart and add it to your paper without documenting the source. Is inserting this chart plagiarism?

How many of you think it is?How many of you think it isnt?

Yes, its plagiarism! The chart was created by (and belongs to) someone else, so youve got to cite.12Is This Plagiarism?13You are writing a paper about African American spirituals and rock n' roll. When you find an article that supports your argument, you summarize the article in your own words and cite it in-text and in the bibliography.

http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/assets/comp/swinglow.jpgNoyou cite the summary properly in text and in the bibliography. 13While researching the rhetoric of anti-war folk songs, you find an article that is perfect. To avoid copying the article word-for-word in your paper, you instead exchange key words and rearrange sentences. You include a complete citation with the page number and the source. 14

http://vietnamartwork.wordpress.com/hippies-anti-war/Is This Plagiarism?And one more.

While writing a research paper on the rhetoric of anti-war folk songs, you find an article that is perfect. Knowing that you shouldn't copy the article word-for-word in your paper, you instead exchange key words and rearrange sentences. You also included a complete citation with the page number and the source.

Raise your hand if you think this is plagiarism.Raise your hand if you think its not.[If most people dont raise their hands at all, make a joke, such as, And raise your hand if you have no idea.]

Yes, it is plagiarism.

Some students argue that this is not plagiarismthat it is an example of paraphrasing. However, failing to integrate the source into your text and parroting the meaning while keeping most of the sentence structure and vocabulary of the original is considered patch writing, and by many, plagiarism. 14TAMU Student RulesPlagiarism The appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving credit to the source.From: http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/Student%20Rules/definitions.html15

According to the TAMU Student Rules, plagiarism is the appropriation of another persons ideas processes, results, or words without giving credit to the source. But what does that mean in a practical sense?15Plagiarism isCopying and pasting from a source into your paper

Turning in someones work as your own

Using someone elses ideas without giving credit

Making up sources

Resubmitting the same paper to different professors without permission

16Plagiarism is:

Copying and pasting from a source into your paperTurning in someones work as your ownUsing someone elses ideas without giving creditMaking up sourcesResubmitting the same paper to different professors without permission

The Consequences

You may not go to jail but . . .

A zero for the assignment

An F on your transcript

Suspension, dismissal, or expulsion from the University

Mandatory participation in an academic integrity course17What can happen to you if you plagiarize?

You can receive a zero for the assignmentAnd an F on your transcript (There may also be a note that you failed for academic dishonesty)Suspension, dismissal, or expulsion from the UniversityYoull also be required to participate in an academic integrity course.

We want to mention these consequences not to make you paranoid, but so that you can understand the full extent of the problem.

How Do We Avoid Plagiarism?

We Cite!18So how do we avoid plagiarism?

We cite!

Remember that each discipline has its own style guide. Search online, check the library handouts, or stop by the UWC to see most style guides.Why Do We Cite?Give credit to the author

Protect intellectual property

Allow readers to cross-reference sources

Add credibility to your argument

Help defend your research

19Why Do we Cite?Citations allow readers to cross-reference your sources,Add credibility to your argument,Help you defend your research,Give credit to the author of the original work, andProtect intellectual property

*It also shows what part of your paper is someone elses work, which in turn shows where your analysis is

Common KnowledgeIt can be easily found in general reference sources.

Ex: Americas independence day was July 4th, 1776. It includes generally known facts, such as the names of leaders of prominent nations, basic scientific laws, famous historical events, or common observations.

Ex: Barack Obama is the president of the United States. 20Information considered to be common knowledge does not require a citation. What is common knowledge?

According to Cal State San Marcos, there are two general criteria for common knowledge:Quantity this information can be found in many common sources (of varying typesdictionaries, encyclopedias)Ubiquity everyone in your audience would know this information

**Remember that if you are uncertain, always include the citation.

http://library.csusm.edu/plagiarism/howtoavoid/how_avoid_common.htm 21NONOYESNOYESYESCite!You probably dont need to cite.1. Is this information someone might disagree with?2. Would a general audience know this information?3. Would your audience know and accept this information?

Points 1 and 2:Points 1 and 2 are relatively straightforward.If no one can reasonably disagree with your information, its probably a fact and would not need to be cited.If a general audience would already know this information, it would be considered common knowledge and would not need to be cited.

For example:Abraham Lincoln was the United States President during the Civil War. **This is a fact that no one would disagree with, and a general U.S. audience would know this information. (It is not something that could be reasonably argued.) This would be considered common knowledge and would not need to be cited.Abraham Lincoln was the most effective president in United States history. **Many people would disagree with this information. It is an interpretation, rather than a fact. Unless this is an argument that you are constructing yourself, you must cite where you got it/who said it.

Point 3:The third point is a bit more difficult because it applies to your audience specifically. 3. If this information is a generally accepted viewpoint or a well-known fact within your field of discourse, then it would be considered common knowledge *TO YOUR AUDIENCE* and would not need to be cited.

21Which of the following would be considered common knowledge?

Smiths study on brain development had 600 participants, aged 5 to 10.

Ke$ha is the best female pop singer today.

The capital of Tennessee is Nashville.

9,073 people attended a Dave Matthews Band Concert in 2006.

22So which of these would be considered common knowledge?

Raise your hand if you think itsSmiths study on music and brain development had 600 participants, aged 5 to 10.Ke$has latest album was banned in 24 cities in the U.S. The capital of Tennessee is Nashville.9,073 people attended a Dave Matthews Band Concert in 2006.

Youre right; the capital of Tennessee is common knowledge. [FYI: The capital of Tennessee is Nashville.]

Citing Your Sources23

For things that are NOT common knowledge, we need to cite sources, and we need to cite them correctly.

Lets talk about how and when you should cite sources.

(Note: the examples in this presentation are in the APA style, which is most common for the social sciences.)

The Big ThreeSummarized information

Paraphrased information

Direct quotations24The Big Three are the instances when you should use a citation. Almost everyone knows that direct quotes require an in-text citation, but paraphrased and summarized information also require citations.

Any time you use an idea from an author, be sure that you are remaining faithful to authors original intent.

Basic rule of thumbcite any piece of information that is not your original work, wording, or idea.

*Tailor your choice according to what discipline (e.g. sciences tend not to quote, social sciences put more emphasis on the author, etc.)SummarizingGives a broad overview of the material

Focuses on what the author is saying generally

Only highlights the main argument REMEMBER:Include a citation when summarizing!25What is summarizing, exactly?

Providing the main argument or salient point from a source.

According to researchers at the University of Herefordshire, illegal downloading is more commonplace among teenagers than originally thought, with half of 14- to 24 year-olds sharing music (Sabbagh, 2006).

Original SourceSummary26SummarizingHeres an example of a summary. The original source is an article about illegal music downloading.

Summaries generally do not require a page number since they refer to an entire work rather than a particular part of a work.ParaphrasingMore detailed than a summary

Requires understanding of the work being paraphrased

Keeps you from directly quoting too much

Explains someone elses essential ideas in your own words27REMEMBER:Include a citation when summarizing!What is paraphrasing, exactly?

Someone elses essential ideas and information in your own words, it keeps you from directly quoting too much, and its more detailed than a summary. Paraphrasing requires that you understand the information of the work being paraphrased.

Dont forget to use a citation every time you paraphrase!

Original SourceThe average digital music player carries 1,770 songs, meaning that 48 per cent of the collection is copied illegally. The proportion of illegally downloaded tracks rises to 61 percent among 14- to 17-year-olds. In addition, 14 percent of CDs (one in seven) in a young person's collection are copied.

ParaphraseResearchers found that, on average, 61% of teenagers music library was illegally downloaded and one in seven CDs were illegally copied (Sabbagh, 2006, p. 25).28ParaphrasingHeres an example of paraphrasing.

It looks a specific detail from a longer work and includes the same information but in the authors own voice.

If possible, provide the page number to indicate where you paraphrased this information from.Paraphrase ExerciseOriginal SourceChildhood lead poisoning has declined steadily since the 1970s, when cars stopped spewing leaded exhaust into the environment and lead paint was formally banned. Yet 40 percent of the nations homes still contain lead paint from the first half of the 20th century, and 25 percent still pose significant health hazards.Cowley, Geoffrey. 2003. Getting the Lead Out. Newsweek, February , 54-56.

Paraphrase 1:Lead poisoning in children has been in decline since 1970 because cars stopped using leaded gas, and lead paint was no longer allowed; still, 40 percent of American homes still contain lead and 25 percent are still dangerous (Cowley, 2003, p. 55).

Paraphrase 2:Although, according to Cowley (2003, p. 55), there has been a decline in lead poisoning in children since 1970, dangers remain. Even now, 25 percent of American homes contain enough lead to threaten the health of their occupants.

29Note to presenter: Read the first passage aloud. Then read the next two paragraphs aloud and discuss which paragraph is a better paraphrase. The first paraphrase is weak because it is just a copy of the original with a couple of words/punctuation marks changed here and there. The second paraphrase is much stronger because it is a true paraphrase, written in the authors own voice. Both paraphrased paragraphs have citations, but the first one might be considered plagiarism by teachers because it is not in the authors own voice and is too close to the original. 29Direct QuotationsUse direct quotes sparingly

Always introduced by a tag phrase or smoothly integrated into your own sentence

If necessary, should include follow-up commentary to explain the quote

30REMEMBER:Include a citation when summarizing!Should be used sparingly when the author has said something particularly effectively, when you cannot say it any better, when you are referring to a eminent scholar who would give strong support to your argument

Should always have a tag/signal phrase to connect the quote to your writingExamples of tag words: acknowledges, agrees, argues, believes, claims, concedes, demonstrates, disagrees, emphasizes, insists, suggests, observes, proves, says [that]

If necessary, should also have follow-up commentary to explain the quote

30Short QuotationsAs Easterly (2003) argues, the goal of having the high-income people make some kind of transfer to very poor people remains a worthy one, despite the disappointments of the past (p. 40).

Despite the enduring controversy over the both the purpose and the efficacy of foreign aid, its goal of having the high-income people make some kind of transfer to very poor people remains a worthy one (Easterly, 2003, p. 40).

31Most citation styles differentiate between short quotes and long quotes. Here is an example of a short quotation. The tag phrase and citation information are highlighted in blue.

The first example has a tag phrase to introduce the quote, while the second is an example of integrating the quote into your own sentence.

Note: This is in APA style. Check with your specific style guide for differences in citation requirements and definition of short and long quotes. (e.g. less than 40 words, less than 5 lines, etc.).Long QuotationsEasterly (2003) discusses one of the long-standing controversies in U.S. foreign aid:If some of the flaws noted in this article can be corrected, the international aid agencies could evolve into more effective and more accountable agencies, much as national governments in the now-rich countries gradually evolved from gangs of venal scoundrels to somewhat more effective and accountable civil servants (with plenty of further evolution still desirable in both cases!). In any case, improving quality of aid should come before increasing quantity. This step is difficult but not impossible. (p. 40)32This is an example of a long quote. Use long quotes VERY sparingly, and avoid them if you can.

Note the differences between a long quote and a short quote. In a long quote: the quote is generally introduced with a colon, the text is indented, there are no quotation marks, and the period goes before the full citation.

As with short quotes, check your style guide for particulars.Is this Plagiarism?

33

In this exercise, you all get to decide if the sample of a students work is plagiarism. 33Sample of Student WorkOriginalFrom its humble origins some 30 years ago in New York's bombed-out, poverty-ravaged South Bronx, hip-hop has risen to become a dominant cultural force both here and abroad. Strictly defined, the term refers to the entire cultural constellation that accompanies rap music, which in 2001 surpassed country music as the most popular musical genre in the United States.Strictly defined, the term refers to the entire cultural constellation that accompanies rap music, which in 2001 surpassed country music as the most popular musical genre in the United States.34Is this plagiarism? Read the original source and raise your hand if you think it is.

Yes, this is plagiarism. This is a direct copy of the originals second sentence without quotes and without a citation. From its humble origins some 30 years ago in New York's bombed-out, poverty-ravaged South Bronx, hip-hop has risen to become a dominant cultural force both here and abroad. Strictly defined, the term refers to the entire cultural constellation that accompanies rap music, which in 2001 surpassed country music as the most popular musical genre in the United States.Piekarski (2004) believes that hip-hop refers to the entire cultural constellation that accompanies rap music, which in 2001 surpassed country music as the most popular musical genre in the United States(p. 47). Though Piekarski makes an important point, he fails to explain what this culture consists of.35OriginalSample of Student WorkIs this plagiarism? Read the original source and raise your hand if you think it is.

No, this is not plagiarism. It gives credit to the author (Piekarski) and quotes directly, indicating properly where the quotes material begins and ends, and giving a page number so the reader can find it. The quote is worked in well, too.From its humble origins some 30 years ago in New York's bombed-out, poverty-ravaged South Bronx, hip-hop has risen to become a dominant cultural force both here and abroad. Strictly defined, the term refers to the entire cultural constellation that accompanies rap music, which in 2001 surpassed country music as the most popular musical genre in the United States.Piekarski (2004, p. 47) argues that hip-hop encompasses more than just rap music; he argues instead that hip-hop is better defined by the culture that surrounds it.36Sample of Student WorkOriginalIs this plagiarism? Read the original source and raise your hand if you think it is.

No; this is an example of a paraphrase. It keeps the authors main point here, but it puts it in the authors own voice.

Ask YourselfWhere did I find this information?

Who is the audience?

Have I used the proper citation style?

When in doubtCITE!

37If you have citation questions:Check the style manual!Ask your professorCome to the UWC

If you are in doubt, go ahead and cite. Its always better to include a citation and remove it later.Strategies to Avoid PlagiarismWhen writing

38READ and fully understand any text you want to cite.Take detailed, accurate notes. Label whether youve summarized, paraphrased, or quoted. Write down all citation information when you first decide to use a source.Color code your sources in the text.

Now that you know what plagiarism is generally and about the 3 different things you need to cite, we wanted to provide some practical strategies to help you avoid it in your writing.

While you are writing:

Be sure you fully understand any text you want to cite. this makes sure that you can incorporate the source into your own writing, so you arent just putting a bunch of sources together randomly.Take detailed and accurate notes. Always label whether youve summarized, paraphrased, or directly quoted. a lot of plagiarism is unintentional and comes as a result of poor note-taking. Write down all necessary citation information when you first decide to use a source. that way you wont have to go back and find your source, and you can avoid possibly giving incorrect information.Color code your sources in text. This will help you determine how much of your paper is other peoples work vs. how much is your own synthesis/analysis. Remember that sources should back YOUR argument up; they should not comprise the entirety of your paper.

http://library.csusm.edu/plagiarism/howtoavoid/how_avoid_notes.htm 38Strategies to Avoid PlagiarismWhen the paper is finished39Read your paper aloud.Double check your paraphrasing/summarizing against the sources.Make sure that every in-text citation has a full citation in your reference list.Consider using a resource like turnitin.com.

When youve finished a draft of your paper:

Read your paper aloud. this will help you hear if a paraphrase sounds too close to the original (you can tell if it doesnt flow or sound like your own voice)Check your paraphrasing and summary against the original documentsMake sure that every in-text citation has a corresponding full citation in your reference listUse turnitin.com. ask if your professor has a class account or come to the UWC to check. Turnitin.com is not only a good resource to highlight potential plagiarism, but also to determine whether youve used your sources effectively in your writing.

While they may be a good starting off point, dont just trust the citation websites! Always double check.39

For More HelpVisit our website or call us to schedule an appointment.

We can help you find answers to your plagiarism and citation questions. 40For additional or more specific help with citing, make an appointment with us at writingcenter.tamu.edu. 40 214 Evans Library | 205 West Campus Library

writingcenter.tamu.edu | 979-458-1455

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