Avoiding Plagiarism:and other writing tips…*

BUS 302The Gateway Experience

*: Adapted from the University of Alberta in Canada

What Is Plagiarism? Use of another’s work without giving

credit

“Intentionally or knowingly representing the words, ideas, or work of another as one’s own in any academic exercise” (CSUN 2010-2012 Catalog, Appendix E)

Discussion Question Why should we be concerned

about it?

Because… If you plagiarize, you are cheating yourself.

You don’t learn to write out your thoughts in your own words, and you don’t get specific feedback geared to your individual needs and skills.

Plagiarizing a paper is like sending a friend to basketball practice for you – you’ll never get the benefit of the practice yourself.

Plagiarism is dishonest because it misrepresents the work of another as your own.

Plagiarism devalues others' original work.

Submitting another writer's work as yours is taking an unfair advantage over students who do their own work.

It is wrong to take or use property (an author's work) without giving the owner the value or credit due.

Copyright violations can result in fines or legal damages.

Plagiarism violates the CSUN Code of Conduct and can result in suspension or expulsion.

CSUN's reputation affects the value of your degree; student dishonesty hurts CSUN’s standing and can make your degree worth less. 

Because…

Discussion Questions Why do people plagiarize?

What can we do to prevent it?

Types of Plagiarism

Intentional plagiarism: deliberate copying or use of another’s work without credit. Unintentional plagiarism can result from:

not knowing citation standards (e.g., “I thought the Internet was free!”)

sloppy research and poor note-taking habits, or careless “copying and pasting” of electronic sources.

Both types are subject to disciplinary action

The Spectrum of Offenses

Possibly Unintentional

Plagiarism

DeliberatePlagiarism

Using a source too

closely when paraphrasing

Building on someone’s

ideas without citation

Copying from another source without citing (on purpose or

by accident)

Hiring someone to write your

paper

Buying, stealing, or borrowing a

paper

Avoiding Plagiarism Manage your time Keep track of your sources Distinguish your ideas from the

ideas in other sources Be careful when working with

others Think of the consequences

Proper Citation Know what to cite

Keep track of original sources Be careful of “cut and paste” online research There are “no freebies” Beware of “common knowledge”

Know how to cite Provide enough information so we can find the original

source Use an accepted standard such as APA or MLA Use your own words and ideas If you repeat another’s exact words, you must use

quotation marks and cite the source. Avoid using others’ work with minor cosmetic changes.

Proper Citation – cont’d Know when to cite

Direct quotations Paraphrased ideas Facts or information that isn’t

common knowledge When in doubt, you must cite

Plagiarism in Teams Team Assignments

All members of the team are responsible for accuracy and honesty of team work

Keep track of your own research and contributions to the team

Proofread for each other Read the paper before it is submitted

Study Groups When working together on individual

assignments, hand in your own words/answers

Don’t give others your written answers. You can discuss how you got your solutions

1 You are writing new insights about your own experiences.

2 You are using an editorial from your school’s newspaper with which you disagree.

3 You use some information from a source without ever quoting it directly.

4 You have no other way of expressing the exact meaning of a text without using the original source verbatim.

5 You mention that many people in your discipline belong to a certain organization.

6 You want to begin your paper with a story that one of your classmates told about her experience in Bosnia.

7 The quote you want to use is too long, so you leave out a couple of phrases.

8 You really like the particular phrase somebody else made up, so you use it.

Below are some situations in which writers need to decide whether or not they are running the risk of plagiarizing. Indicate if you would need to document (Yes), or if it is not necessary to provide quotation marks or a citation (No). If you do need to give the source credit in some way, explain how you would handle it. If not, explain why.

Deciding When To Give Credit: Examples

Academic Dishonesty

Types of Academic Dishonesty

Cheating “Intentionally using or attempting to use

unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise”

Fabrication “Intentional falsification or invention of any

information or citation in an academic exercise”

Facilitating academic dishonesty “Intentionally or knowingly helping or

attempting to help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty”

Plagiarism

Source: CSUN 2010-2012 Catalog, Appendix E.

Academic Integrity Quiz*

*: Adapted from the University of Alberta in Canada

Answer 1

YES!If your instructor specifies that you are expected to do your own work, then both you and your friend can be charged with plagiarism. If you’re not sure whether or not you are allowed to work in groups, ASK!!!

Answer 2

YES!Helping someone to cheat is frowned upon and is definitely a prohibited under the CSUN Policy on Academic Dishonesty . You could be charged and face penalties.

Answer 3

YES!You are still copying someone else’s ideas without acknowledging the author, even if you were going to say the same thing. Every single time you quote from another source, you must include the citation.

Answer 4

NO – But this is a trick question!Altering a medical note falls under the category of Misrepresentation of Facts and carries penalties just as strict as the other instances of inappropriate academic behavior.

Answer 5 YES!

You could be charged with plagiarism (after all, you are handing someone else’s work in as your own), and your friend could be charged with participating in an offense.

Answer 6

NO!It’s your choice whether or not to report someone else’s cheating. However, it’s you that’s going to lose out here – cheating skews the curve and gives someone an academic advantage through dishonest means. Do you really want that in your classes?

Answer 7

YES!As strange as it sounds, re-submission falls under the category of Cheating. When your instructor assigns a paper, it is expected to be researched and written specifically for that purpose.

Answer 8

NO – But this is a trick question!You are misrepresenting facts by fabricating anything on your bibliography or any other assignment, for that matter. You are better off to head back to the library to find one more source.

Answer 9

NO!Materials posted by professors for student use are legitimate and a great way to study. If professors post old exams for student use, you can use them as practice tests.

Answer 10 YES!

This is another case of Misrepresentation of Facts.