Plagiarism: Avoiding Academic Misconduct

1. Avoiding Academic Misconduct
PLAGIARISM

2.  Students will be able to identify plagiarized
information and understand that plagiarism is an
academic conduct violation for which students may
be subject to disciplinary action.
Objective

3. Let’s start out by talking about Beyoncé
http://youtu.be/V1LCYoH3GwQ

4. You decide!
50%
50% A. Yes
B. No
 Do you agree or disagree with the news anchors in
this video?
 Answer this question:
◦ Is Beyoncé guilty of plagiarism?

5.  Someone who said yes:
◦ Tell me why you thought Beyoncé was guilty of
plagiarism.
 Someone who said no:
◦ Tell me why you thought Beyoncé was not guilty of
plagiarism.
Why?

6.  To use the words or ideas of another person as if
they were your own words or ideas.
 To steal and pass off the ideas or words of another
as one's own; to use another's production without
crediting the source
 To commit literary theft; to present as new and
original an idea or product derived from an existing
source
Merriam-Webster Online
What is Plagiarism?

7. One more time…
100%
0% A. Yes
B. No
 Now you know the dictionary
definition of plagiarism.
 Let’s answer the question again
Is Beyoncé guilty of plagiarism?

8.  Coldplay vs. Creaky Boards
◦ https://youtu.be/eUhFLiw6h6s
It isn’t just dance moves; it’s music too!

9.  Coldplay vs. Joe Satriani
They’re at it again…
http://youtu.be/UvB9Pj9Znsw

10.  Sam Smith (2014 song) & Tom Petty (1989 song)
 Petty was awarded co-writing credit for “Stay with Me”
Sometimes it costs an artist…
https://youtu.be/Nr4KbSU_UZw

11.  Are you displaying your dance moves for a class assignment?
 Are you composing a song for your mid-term?
No, you are writing papers, giving speeches, etc.
How does this apply to students?

12.  How do you avoid it?
◦ By knowing more about it!
 What are some of the common types of plagiarism?
◦ Copying
◦ Patchwork plagiarism
◦ Paraphrasing plagiarism
◦ Unintentional
◦ Self-plagiarism
You don’t want plagiarism to cost you!

13.  Probably the most well-known and most common
form of plagiarism.
 Taking the exact words of someone else and
claiming them as your own without properly citing.
◦ A quotation
◦ A passage or paragraph
◦ An entire paper (including those purchased online or written an acquaintance)
Copying

14.  Using phrases and clauses from an original source and
weaving them into your own work without putting the phrases
in quotation marks or citing the author.
◦ ORIGINAL PASSAGE: “Minor league baseball historically is as American as drive-in movies
and Fourth of July parades. It is still small-town U.S.A., in feel if not in fact” (Rielly 206).
◦ PATCHWORK PLAGIARISM: Baseball’s minor leagues are historically as American as drive-
in movies and Fourth of July parades seen in small-town USA.
 The colored phrases should have quotation marks.
 A citation should be included at the end of the passage.
Patchwork plagiarism

15.  Successfully putting another person’s words into your
own but not giving credit to the original author.
ALSO
 Slightly changing the words or using synonyms but
retaining the author's essential thoughts, sentence
structure, and/or style without citing the source.
Paraphrasing plagiarism

16.  If you find paraphrasing difficult, try this activity:
◦ Read through a passage one or two time.
◦ Put the passage away.
◦ Take five or ten minutes to digest what you read.
◦ Summarize what you read without referring back to the original source.
Advice

17.  A writer incorrectly quotes and/or incorrectly cites a source
they are using.
 How is this plagiarism, if the author didn't mean to do it?
 Professors cannot read minds.
◦ They do not know what you meant to do!
Unintentional

18.  Shia LaBeouf – Unintentional plagiarizer?
◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7wb33gPY68
A real world example

19.  The use of your previous work for a separate
assignment.
 These were your original words and thoughts;
however, you already received credit for them with
a previous assignment.
Self-plagiarism

20.  It’s okay if I don’t get caught!
 The assignment was boring!
 The assignment was too hard!
 My professor expects too much!
 Everyone else does it!
 I was too busy to write that paper!
 My parents expect me to get “A”s!
 I need good grades to get into ____ University!
Unacceptable excuses

21.  Cite your sources properly.
◦ Direct quotations, paraphrased/summarized items, and ideas of others.
◦ Incorporate citations as you construct your paper.
 Consult the style manual appropriate for the assignment.
◦ Ask your professor if no style is indicated.
 Show off your original writing skills.
◦ The cited words of others should merely support your original writing.
 Start your research early and make notes on your sources.
 Do not copy and paste into your paper.
 Don’t wait until the last minute to begin writing your paper.
Avoiding plagiarism

22. When you can trace the origin of your
thoughts, phrases, or arguments to any
location except your own brain, cite it!
Always remember

23. If you are unsure how to properly cite a
source you are using in your paper or speech,
please make an appointment with your
campus Writing Center.
Need help?

24. Alright, alright, alright…don’t plagiarize!
http://youtu.be/L2TjQW-h-9Q

25.  University of Louisiana Monroe Library
◦ www.ulm.edu
 Centralia College Writing Center
◦ www.centralia.edu
 Liberty University
◦ www.liberty.edu
Plagiarism presentation sources consulted