The following are examples of plagarism

What is it? The Warriner’s High School Handbook defines Plagiarism as “ the use of another person’s words or ideas without acknowledging the source – is a serious, punishable offense, one you must always avoid” (443). Whenever another person’s work is presented as your own, it is plagiarism. Plagiarism is avoided by giving credit whenever it is due.

Examples of Plagiarism

Direct Quotation
Original Source: “Mostly, they were energetic and idealistic. They were Jewish and Catholic and Protestant and Muslim and Buddhist. They had skin tones that were chocolate and honey and peach and mustard. They were male and female. None of that seemed to matter. What did matter were the music and protests and ideas."
Student Paper: “They were energetic and idealistic. They were Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim and Buddhist. Their skin tones were chocolate, honey, peach and mustard. None of that mattered. What mattered were music, protests and ideas.” (no quotations or citation)

Paraphrase
Original Source: “Kennedy decided he would run for president; there were many who believed he would win that prize. And so he set out, giving speeches across the country. Young people flocked to his side. It was an uproarious campaign, filled with enthusiasm and fun…….. Bobbie had won the Democratic primaries in California and South Dakota."
Student Paper: “It was election time and the Kennedy said yes to the presidential race. Many people throughout the country thought he could win the race. Young people came from across the country to hear him speak……….” (no citation)

Guidelines: Warriner’s High School Handbook provides the following guidelines to use when documenting information from sources in your research paper:

“Always document the source of a direct quotation.
Document the sources of specific surveys, scientific experiments, public polls, and research studies.
Document a new or unusual theory or opinion, or one held by a particular author, even if you present the author’s ideas in your own words.
Document rare, unusual, or questionable facts or statistics especially if they appear in only one source. Usually it is not necessary to document facts or ideas that appear in several sources. Do not document facts widely available in reference books (Cleopatra was a queen of Egypt) or commonly accepted theories (comets are composed of frozen gasses).
If you do not know whether a particular fact is general or specialized knowledge, give its source.
When possible, introduce source material with the name of the author or title of the work, so that source material will be clearly distinguished from your own ideas, and the paper will read more smoothly” (446).

Understand Plagiarism So You Can Avoid It!
Develop personal notes with your own ideas on a topic. How do you feel about the issue. Synthesize the ideas of the authorities with your own ideas. Make the meaningful connections between your thoughts and facts and ideas from your sources. Think your own thoughts!

The following are examples of plagiarism.

Reference resource from a 2003 handout by D. Kirschner:

"But because most of the problems listed above can only cause a relatively small difference in the calculated temperatures, we can still analyze carbonate rocks and determine the temperature of the pale oceans within approximately 5 °C, which is not too bad! It is only when the data from the marine sediments are combined with other data from glacial ice cores, pale-soils, and tree rings that isotope geochemists are able to provide a history of global climate into the geologic past."

Plagiarism example #1: Verbatim copying of information without quotation marks

But because most of the problems listed above can only cause a relatively small difference in the calculated temperatures, we can still analyze carbonate rocks and determine the temperature of the pale oceans within approximately 5 °C, which is not too bad! It is only when the data from the marine sediments are combined with other data from glacial ice cores, pale-soils, and tree rings that isotope geochemists are able to provide a history of global climate into the geologic past. (Kirschner, 2003)

Plagiarism example #2: Copying of information although words are rearranged

We can still analyze carbonate rocks and determine the temperature of the pale oceans within approximately 5 °C, which is not too bad, because most of the problems listed above can only cause a relatively small difference in the calculated temperatures! It is only when the data from the marine sediments are combined with other data from glacial ice cores, pale-soils, and tree rings that isotope geochemists are able to provide a history of global climate into the geologic past. (Kirschner, 2003)

Plagiarism example #3: Moderate modification of words, phrases, and sentences

Many problems listed above can only cause a relatively small difference in the calculated temperatures, thus we can still analyze carbonate rocks and determine the temperature of the pale oceans. This can be done within approximately 5 °C, which is not too bad! However, when the data from marine sediments, glacial ice cores, pale-soils, and tree rings are combined, isotope geochemists can provide a history of global climate change into the geologic past. (Kirschner, 2003)

Plagiarism example #4: Similar organization of ideas, sentences, and/or paragraphs even if it is rewritten

The problems outlined above can produce minor differences in the calculated temperatures when using carbonate rocks to constrain the temperature variations of oceans. The imprecision is on the order of approximately 5°C. If the data from marine carbonates is combined with data from pale soils, tree rings, and glacial ice cores, then it is possible to get a better idea of the history of global climate change.

Plagiarism example #5: Not identifying source of specific information / ideas that are not common knowledge even if the text is not substantially reproduced

Stable isotope data from carbonate rocks can be used to delimit temperature variations of the pale oceans to within +/- 5 °C.

Plagiarism also occurs between students:

Exams and Tests

1. Copying from another student, or making information available to another student.
2. Submitting a take-home examination written, in whole or in part, by someone else.
3. Failing to obey or comply with exam regulations or instructions of a proctor.

Essays and Assignments

1. Using direct quotations or large sections of paraphrased material without
acknowledging the source.
2. Submitting an essay written in whole or in part by someone else as one's own.
3. Preparing an essay or assignment for submission by another student.
4. Copying an essay or assignment, or knowingly allowing one's essay or
assignment to be copied by someone else for the purposes of plagiarism.
5. Buying or selling of term papers or assignments and submitting them as one's
own for the purpose of plagiarism.

Queen's University

Department of History

Name________________________________________

Plagiarism Exercise

Directions: In groups of two people, decide if the following passages are plagiarized when compared to the original. If so, why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning. Bear in mind the following types of plagiarism:

• Substituting just a few words or phrases for the original text.

• Copying a major word or phrase without quotation marks and crediting the author.

• Paraphrasing without crediting the author.

• Copying of source "word-for-word" without quotation marks or crediting of the author.

• Taking an author's idea without crediting the source.

ORIGINAL PASSAGE:

A prominent University of Illinois researcher and the former director of University High School has admitted to plagiarizing a grant proposal and has resigned as a result. Russell Ames, 45, will serve out the next academic year on a paid leave of absence, and has tendered his resignation effective May 1992 as a result of an agreement with the UI, according to UI officials who responded to a News-Gazette inquiry this morning.

--Excerpt from "UI Researcher Steps Down after Admitting to Plagiarism", by Peter Rooney, 4/11/91, A1.

Passage 1:

A previous director of University High School who is also a famous University of Illinois researcher has admitted that he plagiarized a grant proposal, so he has resigned. His resignation is effective in May 1992, in accordance with an agreement made with UI officials. Russell Ames, 45 years old, will receive a paid leave of absence until that time. This information was given to the News-Gazette this morning by UI officials.