Avoid plagiarism--always use quotation marks around another author's words, and cite your source of information!

1. The act of presenting the words or
ideas of others as your own.

2.  Let’s assume that two students are
writing research papers for a history
course. On a visit to the library they both
come across the following excerpt from a
compilation, Napoleon: The Final
Verdict, copyrighted in 1996 by Arms &
Armour Press.
 The passage refers to the closing stages of
the Battle of Waterloo and was written by
Andrew Uffindell.
Learning in the Academy: An Introduction to the Culture of Scholarship, Creighton
University, College of Arts & Sciences, 2nd printing, 2005

3. At this stage many a general would have broken off the
battle and retreated. But Napoleon could not afford a
single setback for it would destroy his reputation and
embolden the political opposition in Paris. He had no
choice but to stake everything on an attack by his Guard
against Wellington. To boost his army’s flagging
morale, Napoleon sent messengers around the
battlefield falsely to announce that Marshal Grouchy was
arriving. This ruse was risky for if Napoleon’s troops
discovered the truth, the sudden disillusionment would
shatter the army. But Napoleon was a gambler, and the
cheers of “Vive l’Empereur! Soldats, voila Grouchy!”
certainly galvanized his army into a renewed effort in
support of the Guard attack.

4. Example A- Unacceptable
All seemed lost for Napoleon, and many a
general would have broken off the battle and
retreated. Yet, he could not afford to do so
as a single setback would destroy his
reputation and harden the political
opposition in Paris.
Why is this unacceptable?
 The words in red are taken directly from the
source.
 Nothing gives credit to the author.

5. Example B- Acceptable
According to Uffindell, all seemed lost for
Napoleon, but to pull out would "destroy his reputation
and embolden the political opposition in Paris” (186).
Why is this acceptable?
 The author’s words are in quotations
 Statement is bookended
 Begins with author’s name
 Ends with citation (page number from book)

6. Example A- Unacceptable
Napoleon had a choice to make. He could either retreat and face
almost certain political collapse back in Paris or stake everything by
confronting the British troops with his Imperial Guard. Never one to
break off an engagement willingly, Napoleon chose the latter option.
Then, to boost his troops’ morale, the Emperor dispatched
messengers around the camp with the false announcement that
Marshal Grouchy would soon arrive to relieve them.
 Why is this unacceptable?
 “In Example A, the writer picks numerous words and phrases from
Uffindell’s paragraph, sometimes changing their form slightly (for
example, substituting false announcement for falsely to announce).
But he does nothing to disguise his wholesale adoption of Uffindell’s
analysis of the situation. The resulting text is plagiarized because the
author could fairly claim very little as his own work beyond some
superficial editing.”– Learning in the Academy: An Introduction to the
Culture of Scholarship, Creighton University, College of Arts &
Sciences, 2nd printing, 2005

7. Example B- Acceptable
According to Andrew Uffindell, Napoleon had a challenging
decision to make at this point: either fall back and face
almost certain rejection at home or “stake everything on an
attack by his Guard against Wellington.” Never one to accept
defeat, Napoleon chose the latter and, “[to] boost his army’s
flagging morale, ... sent messengers around the battlefield
falsely to announce that Marshal Grouchy was arriving”
(Uffindell 186).
Why is this acceptable?
 Everything borrowed is in quotation marks
 The paragraph is bookended
 The quotes are truly part of the sentence
 Her own words are used in between

8. Example A- Unacceptable
Out of fear that his debilitated army would be unable or
willing to make a final charge, Napoleon started the rumor
that Marshal Grouchy was nearby and would be arriving to
assist them at any moment. This could have been a dangerous
move for the Corsican; if his soldiers had found out it was no
more than a rumor, they would most definitely have lost
heart and with it the desire to fight. But Napoleon was
always one to take chances. His ruse worked, and a newly
invigorated army prepared to attack the British line.
Why is this unacceptable?
 Even though the writer used his own words, he did not give credit to
the author for using her information.

9. Example B- Acceptable
According to historian Andrew Uffindell, out of fear that his
debilitated army would be unable or willing to make a final
charge, Napoleon started the rumor the Marshal Grouchy was
nearby and would be arriving to assist them at any moment.
This could have been a dangerous move for the Corsican; if
his soldiers had found out it was no more than a rumor they
would most definitely have lost heart and with it the desire
to fight. But Napoleon was always one to take chances. His
ruse worked and a newly invigorated army prepared to attack
the British line (Uffindell 186).
Why is this acceptable? (Notice the phrasing is the same)
 The writer cited the author.
 Bookending it makes it acceptable!

10.  Learningin the Academy: AN Introduction
to the Culture of Scholarship, Creighton
University, College of Arts & Sciences
http://puffin.creighton.edu/ccas/forms/Learnin
ginAcademy.pdf
 Avoiding Plagiarism: Mastering the Art of
Scholarship, a UTSA Publication of
Student Judicial Affairs.
 SFU Library- Subject Research website
http://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/subjectguid
es/engl/classes/EssayArch.htm

11. Cite it.