What is plagiarism? This definition is adapted from MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (MLA, New York, 1977, p. 3 – 4):
Plagiarism may take the form of repeating another’s sentences as your own, adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own, paraphrasing someone else’s argument as your own, or even presenting someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a thesis as though it were your own. In short, to plagiarize is to give the impression that you have written or thought something that you have in fact borrowed from another. Although a writer may use another person’s words and thoughts, they must be acknowledged as such.
The following passage appears in Volume 1 of Literary History of the United States:
The major concerns of Dickinson’s poetry early and late, her “Flood subjects,” may be defined as the seasons and nature, death and a problematic afterlife, the kinds and phases of love, and poetry as the divine art.
If a student writes the following and does not document the source, the student is plagiarizing:
The chief subjects of Emily Dickinson’s poetry include nature and the seasons, death and the afterlife, the various types and stages of love, and poetry itself as a divine art.
However, if the student writes:
Some critics claim that the chief subjects of Emily Dickinson’s poetry are nature, death, love, and poetry as a divine art (Gibson and Williams, 196).
and lists the source on a Works Cited page, then there is no problem. The student has correctly documented the source.
If in any doubt concerning plagiarism, students should always cite the source they are using. These sources may include books, magazines, journals, internet sites, radio, television or film. For more precise information about how to do this, go to http://www.nutsandboltsguide.com
Why does it matter? When you hand in an assignment, you are asking the teacher to judge what you have achieved as an individual. If you hand in work for academic credit that wholly or partly belongs to someone else, you are cheating; this is also considered theft of intellectual property.
Sometimes you will work in pairs or groups. In such cases, make sure you are
following the teacher’s guidelines about how your work will be
assessed. You teacher may expect
you to do some of the work collaboratively, and some individually. Having another person help you by
rewriting parts of your essay or providing you with ideas is plagiarism. If you do not understand what is
required of you, ask your teacher.
Do not guess.
How do I safely use words/ideas from another source? There are three ways to use someone else’s words or ideas in your work: direct quotation, paraphrase and summary. Direct quotations are used when the author’s original words are so memorable, the facts so specific, or the authority so convincing that the exact words are the only way to express the information. Paraphrases are used when the information is crucial, but the speaker’s authority or exact words are not as impressive. Paraphrases must be entirely in your own words and word order. Summaries are used when only a general sense of the source’s information is needed, for example as background or definition.
Use a signal in the body of your essay to show where the use of a source starts and ends. This technique, called attribution, shows your readers the kinds and quality of evidence that backs up the point you are making. Such a signal (indentation or quotation marks) says to your readers, “This is why you should believe what I say—these facts or this person backs me up.” An in-text citation, usually a page reference in parentheses, allows readers to switch focus from your supporting material back to your own writing. It also helps readers find the source in your Works Cited in case they wish to know more.
Give detailed information about your sources. Always put a complete list of the sources you used (a Works Cited) at the end of your paper so that readers can find out more about them. Even if you do not use secondary sources in, for example, an essay on Hamlet, you still must list Hamlet on your Works Cited.
Anytime you quote, summarize or paraphrase, you must acknowledge the original source. If you summarize or paraphrase, and do not directly credit your source through a citation and Works Cited, YOU ARE PLAGIARIZING.
Your essays/projects must be based on a specific topic/thesis, which has been approved by your teacher. You will be expected to demonstrate proof of your writing process (conferences, outlines, rough drafts, research notes) at any time during the course, so keep all this material. If you are told not to use secondary sources then do not use them.
Consequences: See agenda p. 18.
Portions of the preceding have been adapted from The Winthrop
Writing Center Page, Winthrop University Department of English, http://www.winthrop.edu.english/;
Leicester University Department of English page, http://www.le.ac.uk/english/ee.html;
Plagiarism Q&A page, http://edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu/~mspears/plagiarism.html