Check your work carefully!

1. PLAGIARISM
What It Is
&
How to Avoid It
Presentation based on Clemson's Student-
Athlete Enrichment Programs

2. What is PLAGIARISM
Definition: Misrepresenting anyone else’s
words, work, or ideas as your own.
● This can happen intentionally or
unintentionally.
● Even unintentional plagiarism has to be
reported.

3. HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM
#1 - Give yourself lots of time to complete
projects.

4. HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM
#2 - Take careful notes. When you read a
source, write brief summary notes in your own
words. Do not copy word-for-word from a
source. You may forget what words are yours
and what words come from the source.

5. HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM
#3 - Cite every idea or fact you learned from a
source. Unless the fact or idea is so well-known
that almost every person in the world will
already know, you must cite the source.
Example: "William Shakespeare was an English
playwright." This is common knowledge. No
need to cite.

6. What about Unintentional
Plagiarism?
Ignorance is NOT an excuse
Examples
● Failure to cite sources
● Omitting quotation marks where needed
● Incorrect paraphrase

7. INTERNAL CITATION
Definition: Internal citations go at the end of
sentences with material from your sources.
Internal citations tell readers that the material in
the preceding sentences was taken from
another source. Use internal citation when
paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting.

8. INTERNAL CITATION
● Cite immediately after direct quote or
paraphrase.
● Place summary citations at the end of the
section.
● Citations go inside the sentence.

9. Quote: Definition
● Quote: a direct use of an author's words. Always put
quotes in quotations and follow with an internal
citation.
When I quote, I use the exact words of the author and
separate those words from my words with quotes.
Note: In Wikipedia, you will very seldom use direct
quotes. Direct quoting should be used rarely.

10. Summary: Definition
● Summary: a condensed synopsis of a larger
argument, text, or discourse.
When I summarize, I take a lot of information from my
research and explain it in a concise review of the
main points. At the end of a summary, I include an
internal citation.

11. Paraphrase: Definition
● Paraphrase: “A rewording of the meaning of
something spoken or written” (Webster’s Dictionary).
When I paraphrase, I keep the meaning but change the
word order and vocabulary so they become my own
(Webster's Dictionary).

12. STEPS IN PARAPHRASING
● Read & understand the source.
● Put away the source.
● Make simple list of main points.
● Review source for accurate information.
● Put away source; rewrite in your own
words.
● Check paraphrase against original
source.

13. GOOD PARAPHRASE IS:
● Accurate – same meaning as source.
● Original – different language from
source.
● Grammatically correct.
● If NO, try again.

14. TIPS FOR PARAPHRASING
● Use different STRUCTURE.
● Maintain MEANING.
● Vary WORDS (except proper names,
numbers, technical jargon).
● Keep similar LENGTH.
● Use your own STYLE, even if less
perfect.

15. Paraphrase or Plagiarize?

16. EXAMPLES: Is this good
paraphrase?
● Original source:
“If the existence of a signing ape was
unsettling for linguists, it was also startling
news for animal behaviorists” (Davis 26).
● Version A:
The existence of a signing ape unsettled
linguists and startled animal behaviorists
(Davis 26).

17. NO! Explanation: Version A
uses too many words from
the original source.
● Original source:
“If the existence of a signing ape was
unsettling for linguists, it was also startling
news for animal behaviorists” (Davis 26).
● Version A: PLAGIARISM
The existence of a signing ape unsettled
linguists and startled animal behaviorists
(Davis 26).

18. EXAMPLES: Is this good
paraphrase?
● Original source:
“If the existence of a signing ape was
unsettling for linguists, it was also startling
news for animal behaviorists” (Davis 26).
● Version B:
If the presence of a sign-language-using
chimp was disturbing for scientists studying
language, it was also surprising to scientists
studying animal behavior (Davis 26).

19. No! Explanation: Version B
copies the sentence structure
of the original source
● Original source:
“If the existence of a signing ape was
unsettling for linguists, it was also startling
news for animal behaviorists” (Davis 26).
● Version B: PLAGIARISM (structure)
If the presence of a sign-language-using
chimp was disturbing for scientist studying
language, it was also surprising to scientists
studying animal behavior (Davis 26).

20. EXAMPLES: Is this good
paraphrase?
● Original source:
“If the existence of a signing ape was
unsettling for linguists, it was also startling
news for animal behaviorists” (Davis 26).
● Version C:
According to Flora Davis, linguists and animal
behaviorists were unprepared for the news
that a chimp could communicate with its
trainers through sign language (Davis 26).

21. Yes! Explanation: Version C
conveys the same idea, but
changes the words and sentence
structure.
● Original source:
“If the existence of a signing ape was
unsettling for linguists, it was also startling
news for animal behaviorists” (Davis 26).
● Version C: GOOD PARAPHASE!
According to Flora Davis, linguists and animal
behaviorists were unprepared for the news
that a chimp could communicate with its
trainers through sign language (Davis 26).

22. Check your work:
● Make copies of all research sources.
● Underline all sections of sources used
in paper.
● Underline all cited material in paper.
● Compare the two, using guidelines for
paraphrasing and avoiding plagiarism.