PLAGIARISMWhat is it and what does it look like?

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is: To steal the words or ideas of another

person To pass off the words or ideas of another

person as one’s own

Further: It doesn’t matter whether the theft is

intentional or accidental. Either way, it is plagiarism.

Examples of Plagiarism in the Classroom:

Copying/Allowing others to copy Passing off someone else’s work as

your own Using another’s written ideas or

words Not acknowledging sources

WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL

Is this Plagiarism?

Original Source: At the start of the Great Depression,

many Americans wanted to believe that the hard times would be only temporary.

Student Version: At the beginning of the Great

Depression, a lot of Americans wanted to think that the hard times would be only temporary.

Is this Plagiarism?

Original Source: Devices in the iPod range are primarily

digital audio players, designed around a central click wheel — although the iPod shuffle has buttons also.

Student Version: An iPod is an MP3 player that lets you

choose and play songs to listen to using a click wheel (or on older versions, buttons).

Is this Plagiarism?

Original Source: Integrity must be sincere. That’s one reason

Lincoln was so admired in his lifetime. Through an individual’s words, deeds, and actions, integrity can be judged to be genuine.

Student Wording: One reason that Lincoln was well-liked during his

lifetime was that his integrity was sincere. A person’s statements and dealings with the world allows that person to be judged as honest.

To Avoid Plagiarism

Cite the source of any idea or words you take from anyone else.

Carefully mark the beginning and end of the source’s words or idea.

Provide a bibliography to show where the borrowed material originated.

Cite any information that you did not think of on your own.

The only exception is “common knowledge” – for example, Barack Obama is the President, Michael Jordan played basketball

Did youthink of

it?

No.

Yes.

Is itcommon

knowledge?

No.

Yes.

Cite it. Do not cite it.

Always cite direct quotes.

Should you Cite?

Jack isn’t sure if he needs to cite the source of the information below. He found the fact online.

“Abraham Lincoln was our 16th president.”

Should you Cite?

In her paper on Affirmative Action, Jill found one source that explained that Affirmative Action “evens the field of play by forcing equality among all players.”

In her paper, Jill uses the phrase “forcing equality” but she puts all the other parts of the source into her own words.

Consequences of Plagiarism At Westwood:

Zero on the assignment Email home May lose eligibility in academic

clubs/organizations

Real Life Incidents

As a reporter for the New York Times, Jayson Blair plagiarized or fabricated in more than 40 stories between 2002 and 2005. He was fired from his job. The top two editors of the newspaper resigned as a result of the scandal. After being accused of rampant plagiarism in her work, tenured professor Madonna G. Constantine was fired from her position at Columbia University. Blair Hornstein was the valedictorian of her high school class and had earned admission to Harvard University. After articles Hornstein wrote for a local newspaper were discovered to have been plagiarized, Harvard University rescinded their acceptance.