Understanding & Understanding & Avoiding Plagiarism Avoiding Plagiarism

ESOL 51ESOL 51Fall 2007Fall 2007

Adapted from www.plagiarism.orgAdapted from www.plagiarism.org

What is plagiarism?What is plagiarism?

►Stealing someone’s words or ideas. Stealing someone’s words or ideas. ►Pretending that someone’s words or Pretending that someone’s words or

ideas are your own. ideas are your own. ►Using someone’s words or ideas without Using someone’s words or ideas without

giving credit. giving credit. ► Incorrectly using quotations & Incorrectly using quotations &

paraphrases. paraphrases. ► In other words, plagiarism is an act of In other words, plagiarism is an act of

fraud. It involves both stealing someone fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward. else's work and lying about it afterward.

Question for DiscussionQuestion for Discussion

►What are the consequences for What are the consequences for cheating and/or plagiarism in your cheating and/or plagiarism in your native country or previous school?native country or previous school?

Consequences of Plagiarism Consequences of Plagiarism

►Read p. 106-108 of your student Read p. 106-108 of your student handbook & planner to understand handbook & planner to understand more about how plagiarism and more about how plagiarism and academic dishonesty is handled at academic dishonesty is handled at MCTC. MCTC.

►Consequences range from a warning Consequences range from a warning to expulsion from the college.to expulsion from the college.

What happens if I suspect you of What happens if I suspect you of plagiarism? plagiarism?

► I will ask you to come to my office visit to I will ask you to come to my office visit to discuss why I suspect plagiarism.discuss why I suspect plagiarism.

► If I determine you have not plagiarized, I If I determine you have not plagiarized, I will help you clarify your writing and will help you clarify your writing and explain how to avoid plagiarism in the explain how to avoid plagiarism in the future. future.

► If I determine that you have plagiarized, I If I determine that you have plagiarized, I will submit a report to Judicial Affairs and will submit a report to Judicial Affairs and you will receive a zero on the assignment.you will receive a zero on the assignment.

The second time you The second time you plagiarize:plagiarize:

► I will submit a second report to Judicial I will submit a second report to Judicial Affairs. The Judicial Affairs committee Affairs. The Judicial Affairs committee and the dean will review the report and the dean will review the report and take appropriate action. This and take appropriate action. This could include probation or suspension could include probation or suspension from the college.from the college.

►You will automatically receive a NC You will automatically receive a NC (No Credit) in this course.(No Credit) in this course.

How to Avoid Plagiarism How to Avoid Plagiarism

►Talk to your teacher. Talk to your teacher. ►Be honest. If you use outside sources, tell Be honest. If you use outside sources, tell

your reader where you got your your reader where you got your information.information.

►Be careful. Sometimes plagiarism is Be careful. Sometimes plagiarism is unintentional. unintentional.

►Know how to paraphrase and quote Know how to paraphrase and quote correctly.correctly.

►When in doubt, cite your source.When in doubt, cite your source.

Citing SourcesCiting Sources

► In college writing classes, you will write In college writing classes, you will write research papers that use research papers that use outside outside sources.sources.

►When you use an outside source, it is When you use an outside source, it is your responsibility to tell the reader your responsibility to tell the reader where the information is from.where the information is from.

►A A citationcitation gives the reader information gives the reader information about the outside source. You must about the outside source. You must provide enough information so the provide enough information so the reader can find the source on his own. reader can find the source on his own.

Example of a CitationExample of a Citation

Raimes, A. Raimes, A. Grammar Troublespots: A Grammar Troublespots: A Guide for Student Writers.Guide for Student Writers. 3 3rdrd Edition. Edition. Cambridge University Press. 2004Cambridge University Press. 2004

Quotations & ParaphrasesQuotations & Paraphrases

►A A quotationquotation is when you use the is when you use the author’s exact words. Put the exact author’s exact words. Put the exact words in quotation marks.words in quotation marks.

►A A paraphraseparaphrase is when you use YOUR is when you use YOUR words to summarize what the author words to summarize what the author said. said.