Awesome MLA Awesome MLA PowerpointPowerpoint

How Not to Plagiarize How Not to Plagiarize AccidentallyAccidentally

What is considered What is considered plagiarism?plagiarism?

Intentional ExamplesIntentional Examples►Buying a paper on the Internet.Buying a paper on the Internet.►Constructing a paper entirely out of bits Constructing a paper entirely out of bits

you cut-and-pasted from the Internet.you cut-and-pasted from the Internet.►Two friends writing one paper together Two friends writing one paper together

and turning it in to two different classes.and turning it in to two different classes.►Stealing your roommate’s 1020 paper Stealing your roommate’s 1020 paper

while he’s out on a date and turning it in while he’s out on a date and turning it in as your own.as your own.

What is considered What is considered plagiarism?plagiarism?

Unintentional ExamplesUnintentional Examples►Quoting something without citing it.Quoting something without citing it.►Not quoting something when you Not quoting something when you

should have.should have.►Not citing statistics and uncommon Not citing statistics and uncommon

knowledge even when they’re in your knowledge even when they’re in your own words.own words.

►Not citing a paraphrase of someone Not citing a paraphrase of someone else’s information, opinion, theory, etc.else’s information, opinion, theory, etc.

What counts as common What counts as common knowledge?knowledge?

This can be tough to decide. General rules to This can be tough to decide. General rules to follow:follow:

►Did I know it before I began researching?Did I know it before I began researching?► Is it a statistic of some sort? Is it a statistic of some sort? ►Would the average person know this? (Not Would the average person know this? (Not

BELIEVE it if you told them, but already know BELIEVE it if you told them, but already know it.) it.)

► An example: An example: The average bottle of water is about a dollar. (No The average bottle of water is about a dollar. (No

Citation)Citation) 10 million bottles of Aquafina were sold on WSU’s 10 million bottles of Aquafina were sold on WSU’s

campus in 2006. (Citation Needed) campus in 2006. (Citation Needed)

What is Paraphrase?What is Paraphrase?

► Restating and rewording a passage or text, Restating and rewording a passage or text, keeping the original message intact.keeping the original message intact.

► Paraphrase is done to elaborate on texts, to Paraphrase is done to elaborate on texts, to render a text more understandable to those render a text more understandable to those outside the discipline, or to avoid having huge outside the discipline, or to avoid having huge chunks of block quotes in a paper you’re being chunks of block quotes in a paper you’re being forced to write in an English class. forced to write in an English class.

► Paraphrase showcases your understanding of Paraphrase showcases your understanding of the text, as it demonstrates your ability to the text, as it demonstrates your ability to convey the message the original author convey the message the original author intended in your own voice. Very strong ethos intended in your own voice. Very strong ethos move. move.

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

►As Nathaniel Bell once famously said, As Nathaniel Bell once famously said, “This is not a paraphrase.”“This is not a paraphrase.”

►This is not a paraphrase.This is not a paraphrase.►This is not really a paraphrase.This is not really a paraphrase.

A More Scholarly ExampleA More Scholarly Example► ““Given that his superpowers are essentially restricted Given that his superpowers are essentially restricted

to talking to fish, Aquaman is perhaps the most to talking to fish, Aquaman is perhaps the most useless hero in the DC Universe, and his admirers useless hero in the DC Universe, and his admirers must be regarded as utterly devoid of taste.” –Mitch must be regarded as utterly devoid of taste.” –Mitch McGillMcGill

► Given that his superpower is simply to talking to fish, Given that his superpower is simply to talking to fish, Aquaman is perhaps the most useless hero in the DC Aquaman is perhaps the most useless hero in the DC Universe, and his admirers must be regarded as Universe, and his admirers must be regarded as utterly devoid of taste. (Plagiarism)utterly devoid of taste. (Plagiarism)

► For example, fans of the superhero Aquaman are For example, fans of the superhero Aquaman are regarded by some comic book collectors as lacking in regarded by some comic book collectors as lacking in taste, as his abilities are humorous and of taste, as his abilities are humorous and of questionable usefulness. (Plagiarism)questionable usefulness. (Plagiarism)

► For example, fans of the superhero Aquaman are For example, fans of the superhero Aquaman are regarded by some comic book collectors as lacking in regarded by some comic book collectors as lacking in taste, as his abilities are humorous and of taste, as his abilities are humorous and of questionable usefulness (McGill). (Not plagiarism)questionable usefulness (McGill). (Not plagiarism)

Why should I care about any of Why should I care about any of this?this?

► Because it’s the legal, fair, upstanding, honest thing Because it’s the legal, fair, upstanding, honest thing to do.to do.

► Because it makes you appear more trustworthy to Because it makes you appear more trustworthy to your audience.your audience.

► Because you would want to be credited if it was Because you would want to be credited if it was your work being used as a source.your work being used as a source.

► Because WSU, like many schools, has a zero-Because WSU, like many schools, has a zero-tolerance policy which means that even tolerance policy which means that even unintentional plagiarism CAN get you an F in the unintentional plagiarism CAN get you an F in the course and a letter on your file explaining why you course and a letter on your file explaining why you got the F. You might also find yourself on trial.got the F. You might also find yourself on trial.

► And because even if your instructor doesn’t take And because even if your instructor doesn’t take this step, you are still going to fail the paper. this step, you are still going to fail the paper.

What you may be thinking:What you may be thinking:

……Yeah, right. The average US Comp Yeah, right. The average US Comp instructor has multiple classes, with instructor has multiple classes, with 25-30 students per class. There’s no 25-30 students per class. There’s no way in hell my instructor has time to way in hell my instructor has time to doublecheck every single one of those doublecheck every single one of those papers. papers.

Reasons people get caught Reasons people get caught anyway:anyway:

►We read a lot of your writing. You may not We read a lot of your writing. You may not realize how individual your voice is, but we do. realize how individual your voice is, but we do.

►We talk to each other, a lot. And many We talk to each other, a lot. And many composition papers are read by a trio of composition papers are read by a trio of instructors, rather than just one. You may slip instructors, rather than just one. You may slip past Mr. Davidson and Ms Saoirse, only to be past Mr. Davidson and Ms Saoirse, only to be caught in the deadly clutches of Mrs. caught in the deadly clutches of Mrs. Pennydowns!Pennydowns!

► Your instructors (all of them) have access to a Your instructors (all of them) have access to a program called SafeAssign through Blackboard.program called SafeAssign through Blackboard.

What does SafeAssign do?What does SafeAssign do?

► SafeAssign is a program that searches documents SafeAssign is a program that searches documents against the Internet at large, and a database of against the Internet at large, and a database of university papers submitted across the country by university papers submitted across the country by students like yourselves. students like yourselves.

► An instructor would NEVER add your paper to the An instructor would NEVER add your paper to the database without your permission, but many students database without your permission, but many students choose to have their work added, and the instructor choose to have their work added, and the instructor can still check your essay without adding it.can still check your essay without adding it.

► If a sentence or sentences match other sentences by If a sentence or sentences match other sentences by a certain percentage or more (Returns aren’t just a certain percentage or more (Returns aren’t just 100%, but 89% or even 65%.) the program highlights 100%, but 89% or even 65%.) the program highlights the text and provides a link showing your instructor the text and provides a link showing your instructor exactly where the text came from. exactly where the text came from.

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Every instructor I have ever spoken with agrees Every instructor I have ever spoken with agrees that students rarely plagiarize on purpose. that students rarely plagiarize on purpose. Most instances are pure accidents, resulting Most instances are pure accidents, resulting from misunderstanding or ignorance of citation from misunderstanding or ignorance of citation methods. This information is not intended to methods. This information is not intended to make an accusation, but to educate and make an accusation, but to educate and prepare. Some teachers come down very hard prepare. Some teachers come down very hard on even accidental plagiarism, and Comp. on even accidental plagiarism, and Comp. instructors would be remiss in their obligations instructors would be remiss in their obligations to you if we did not make you aware of the to you if we did not make you aware of the seriousness of this situation. seriousness of this situation.