Understanding Plagiarism: A Workshop

Learning Goals:

To define plagiarism appropriately

To recognize plagiarism

To be able to explain what constitutes appropriate use of other’s ideas or words.

Directions: Read the original passage. Decide which of passages are plagiarized and mark what you think is the best response to the true/false prompt.

Original passage:

The focus on individuality, on the personal benefits and the utility of education, has a right tradition in American higher education. Throughout the years, students have come to college to pursue their own goals, to follow their own aptitudes, to become productive, self-reliant human beings, and, with a new knowledge, to continue learning after college days are over.

Version #1: A focus on individuality, on the personal benefits of education, has a strong tradition in American colleges. Throughout time, students have attended college to pursue their own goals, to become productive human beings, and to continue to learn after college.

True or False: Version #1. is plagiarized

Version #2: I think that a focus on the individual is a significant tradition in colleges in America. Students have always attended colleges to “pursue their own goals, to follow their own aptitudes, to become productive, self-reliant human beings, and, with a new knowledge, to continue learning after college days are over.”

True or False: Version #2. is plagiarized

Version #3: I agree with Boyer’s argument that the focus on individuality is an important tradition in U.S. colleges. Boyer feels that students come to college to “pursue their own goals, to follow their own aptitudes, to become productive, self-reliant human beings, and, with a new knowledge, to continue learning after college days are over” (31). I am a perfect example of what Boyer is arguing, because I came to college to find a career that matches my abilities and to gain new knowledge I couldn’t get anywhere else.

Works Cited(This version is MLA)

Boyer, Ernest. “Two Essential Goals.” Foundations: A Reader for New College

Students. Eds. Virginia N. Gordon andThomas L. Minnick. Thompson,

2003. 30-32.

True or False: Version #3. is plagiarized

Answers and Justifications

True—Version #1 is plagiarized.

Why Version #1 is plagiarized

The student writer uses phrases directly from the source, changing only a few words, and never cites the source. Rather than changing a word here and there, the writer should have quoted the source directly and cited the quote, or paraphrased the source and cited it. Even if the source is listed in the bibliography, this is plagiarism.

True—Version #2 is plagiarized.

Why Version #2 is plagiarized

The student writer does quote the source directly, but to acknowledge fully the source and avoid plagiarism, the writer needs to cite the appropriate source after the quote, even if it is listed in the bibliography.

False—Version #3 is not plagiarized.

Why Version #3 is not plagiarized

In this example the student writer has avoided plagiarism. The writer acknowledges that she is responding to Boyer’s argument, and cites a direct quote with an acknowledgment of Boyer and the page number from the source text. Any source cited in the text should also be listed in the Works Cited page. In MLA style, here’s how the source would appear in the Works Cited page.

Works Cited (This version is MLA)

Boyer, Ernest. “Two Essential Goals.” Foundations: A Reader for New College

Students. Eds. Virginia N. Gordon andThomas L. Minnick. Thompson,

2003. 30-32.

In the space below, write your definition of plagiarism:

______

Directions: Read the original passage below. Then write a brief paragraph about the need to fund programs to protect children using information from the original passage to support your argument. Use the material from the passage in a way that does not plagiarize it. Be prepared to defend your use of the material.

Original passage:

On April 30, 2003, President George W. Bush signed the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act of 2003 into law.

Building on the steps already taken by the Bush Administration to support AMBER Alert programs, this Act codified the national coordination of state and local AMBER Alert programs, including the development of guidance for issuance and dissemination of AMBER Alerts and the appointment of a national AMBER Alert Coordinator.

In anticipation of the passage of this national legislation, on October 2, 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft appointed Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Deborah J. Daniels to serve as national AMBER Alert coordinator.

Reference

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, “National AMBER Alert Coordination.” Retrieved November 25, 2003 from http://www.missingkids.com/ >

______

______

Discussion Notes:

References

Bikle, Bruce, Nick Burnett, Don Dixon, Dan Melzer, Rosemary Papalewis, Mary Reddick, and Mark Stoner. March 2004. Plagiarism Information for CSUS Students and Faculty. (Online), September 2,2004. http://library.csus.edu/content2.asp?pageID=353

Workshop Handout for download is available at: http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/stonerm/information.html