A powerpoint designed to help students understand what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.

1. Understanding &Understanding &
Avoiding PlagiarismAvoiding Plagiarism
ESOL 51ESOL 51
Fall 2007Fall 2007
Adapted from www.plagiarism.orgAdapted from www.plagiarism.org

2. What is plagiarism?What is plagiarism?
►Stealing someone’s words or ideas.Stealing someone’s words or ideas.
►Pretending that someone’s words or ideasPretending that someone’s words or ideas
are your own.are your own.
►Using someone’s words or ideas withoutUsing someone’s words or ideas without
giving credit.giving credit.
►Incorrectly using quotations & paraphrases.Incorrectly using quotations & paraphrases.
►In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud.In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud.
It involves both stealing someone else'sIt involves both stealing someone else's
work and lying about it afterward.work and lying about it afterward.

3. Question for DiscussionQuestion for Discussion
►What are the consequences for cheatingWhat are the consequences for cheating
and/or plagiarism in your native country orand/or plagiarism in your native country or
previous school?previous school?

4. Consequences of PlagiarismConsequences of Plagiarism
►Read p. 106-108 of your student handbookRead p. 106-108 of your student handbook
& planner to understand more about how& planner to understand more about how
plagiarism and academic dishonesty isplagiarism and academic dishonesty is
handled at MCTC.handled at MCTC.
►Consequences range from a warning toConsequences range from a warning to
expulsion from the college.expulsion from the college.

5. What happens if I suspect you ofWhat happens if I suspect you of
plagiarism?plagiarism?
►I will ask you to come to my office visit toI 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 willIf I determine you have not plagiarized, I will
help you clarify your writing and explain howhelp you clarify your writing and explain how
to avoid plagiarism in the future.to avoid plagiarism in the future.
►If I determine that you have plagiarized, IIf I determine that you have plagiarized, I
will submit a report to Judicial Affairs andwill submit a report to Judicial Affairs and
you will receive a zero on the assignment.you will receive a zero on the assignment.

6. The second time you plagiarize:The second time you plagiarize:
►I will submit a second report to JudicialI will submit a second report to Judicial
Affairs. The Judicial Affairs committee andAffairs. The Judicial Affairs committee and
the dean will review the report and takethe dean will review the report and take
appropriate action. This could includeappropriate action. This could include
probation or suspension from the college.probation or suspension from the college.
►You will automatically receive a NC (NoYou will automatically receive a NC (No
Credit) in this course.Credit) in this course.

7. How to Avoid PlagiarismHow to Avoid Plagiarism
►Talk to your teacher.Talk to your teacher.
►Be honest. If you use outside sources, tellBe honest. If you use outside sources, tell
your reader where you got your information.your reader where you got your information.
►Be careful. Sometimes plagiarism isBe careful. Sometimes plagiarism is
unintentional.unintentional.
►Know how to paraphrase and quote correctly.Know how to paraphrase and quote correctly.
►When in doubt, cite your source.When in doubt, cite your source.

8. Citing SourcesCiting Sources
►In college writing classes, you will writeIn college writing classes, you will write
research papers that useresearch papers that use outside sources.outside sources.
►When you use an outside source, it is yourWhen you use an outside source, it is your
responsibility to tell the reader where theresponsibility to tell the reader where the
information is from.information is from.
►AA citationcitation gives the reader information aboutgives the reader information about
the outside source. You must providethe outside source. You must provide
enough information so the reader can findenough information so the reader can find
the source on his own.the source on his own.

9. Example of a CitationExample of a Citation
Raimes, A.Raimes, A. Grammar Troublespots: A GuideGrammar Troublespots: A Guide
for Student Writers.for Student Writers. 33rdrd
Edition. CambridgeEdition. Cambridge
University Press. 2004University Press. 2004

10. Quotations & ParaphrasesQuotations & Paraphrases
►AA quotationquotation is when you use the author’sis when you use the author’s
exact words. Put the exact words inexact words. Put the exact words in
quotation marks.quotation marks.
►AA paraphraseparaphrase is when you use YOUR wordsis when you use YOUR words
to summarize what the author said.to summarize what the author said.