Academic Honesty and

Effective ResearchMethods

Identifying and Avoiding Plagiarism

Presented byBarbra and Justin

Whoa to Ye Plagiarist

Young Willy was tingling from the top of his head to the very soles of his feet. It was a warm May afternoon. It was graduation day. Things could not be going any better. His grades were stellar, he had three post-degree apprenticeships to choose from, and best of all Sally Berchowski, a formerly bitter ex-girlfriend, was lovingly smiling at him as he stood in line to accept his college degree— “she must have forgiven me for last fall” he thought.

But young Willy was in store for a surprise, three days later, wild rumors were circulating about his grades, his course work, and their connection to his former roommate. It came like a whirlwind, and by the end of the month the university investigation was over. Young Willy was degreeless.

The truth was that someone had told the authorities his secret. For after being threatened and pressured by university investigators, his old roommate cracked and admitted that for over two years, Willy had paid him to write numerous papers and assignments. Feeling rather guilty for the whole thing, the roommate later confessed to Willy who it was that started the whole mess—it was none other than Sally Berchowski.

Group Time

• But something like Plagiarism isn’t always this cut and dry—isn’t always this obvious.

• Group time: Each table brainstorm a definition of plagiarism—what it is and is not, what can get you in trouble and what can’t.

Academic Honesty

• At each table we would also like you to consider these questions:

• Describe the University setting; what is a community of scholars?

• What is intellectual property and why is it important to maintain academic honesty in this community?

• How do citations act as “breadcrumbs”?

Defining Plagiarism

• Representing the ideas of another author as your own For example: the verbatim copying of a source

• Partial: Such as pasting phrases, sentences, even whole paragraphs, of a source without citation or referring back to the source

• Comprehensive: Like Willy; purchasing an entire paper or having it written for you

• Copying the structure of a work or paraphrasing a source’s ideas or message without citation

Cat Stevens vs. The Flaming Lips

Father & Son

The Flaming Lips were recording a song called “Fight Test” when band members thought it sounded strikingly similar to Cat Steven’s “Father & Son.” They then tried to change the song to avoid plagiarism. However, when the song was released, it caused a controversy. What do you think?

Fight Test

Cat Stevens vs. The Flaming Lips: Aftermath

• Let’s let the lead singer of The Flaming Lips, Wayne Coyne, explain:

Whoa to Ye:Aftermath

• Media scandal, story breaks on 20/20• USC investigates allegations• Degree returned• Family business scandalizedFor more information, visit:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9757284/ns/us_news-education/ or http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2004-11-24-walmart-heiress-arena_x.htm or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Walton_Laurie

Why should students make Citations?

• First and most importantly, it establishes credibility It shows what you know about the topic Citations show that you are well-read It creates a stronger case for your own ideas

• Citations show that you are thinking about how others’ ideas relate to your own Citations may help prove your point by building

on previous knowledge and arguments in the field It prepares you to enter the academic community

• They get you out of trouble!

When do I Cite?

• When…• Referring directly to the ideas of another• Using previous work as a foundation for

your own ideas• Referencing outside material that might

be important to your argument or otherwise of interest to your audience

• Citing information that is not “common knowledge”

What about digital media?

• What needs to be cited? Images Layouts Music Video

• Style manuals have guidelines for digital media Example: “McDonald’s Happy Meal Toy Safety Facts,” McDonald’s

Corporation, accessed July 19, 2008, http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/about/factsheets.html.

Improper Citation vs. Unintentional

Plagiarism• Improperly citing a source: Typically

constitutes an attempt at citation which does not follow standard formatting

• Unintentional Plagiarism: This typically happens when one was not aware that a citation was necessary.

Avoiding Intentional Plagiarism

What are the biggest reasons people plagiarize?

• Cause #2: Ran out of time. Procrastination.• Solution: Backward Planning

Start at your due date and work backward to develop a timeline for drafting, revising, and making an appt. at the WC.

Avoiding Plagiarism

What are the biggest reasons people plagiarize? (cont.)

• Cause #1: Didn’t know it was plagiarism.• Solution: Familiarize yourself with the

standards of the academic community your working in. Establish your own system for keeping track of sources

Compose your works cited page as you go Use different colored text for integrated quotes Keep a bibliography for all visited sources Use citation tools (Zotero)

Doing Research

• Direct Quotes Integrated Block

• Paraphrasing• Summarizing

Ineffective use of sources

• Throwing in disconnected quotes This is highly ineffective; although it looks

like you are using the source material, you are simply littering your paper with vague or irrelevant ideas.

• Switching the words around This is not paraphrasing or summarizing,

but constitutes plagiarism because you are simply altering a direct quotation without actually quoting it in your text.

Direct Quotes

• Introduce Signaling

phrases

• Insert Block quote Integrated

quote

• Interpret Explain

relevance

Direct Quotes: the block quote

• In Moving Europeans, Professor Leslie Moch illustrates the effect nascent 19th century market capitalism had on the French rural economy:

“Western Europe saw drastic changes in rural economies in the nineteenth century, as chances to earn a living year-round by rural manufacture, agricultural work, or a combination of the two were endangered…rather than hire agricultural servants by the year, large farms tended to hire labor for shorter periods, because labor demand became focused in short seasons as farm production narrowed to one or two labor-intensive crops.” (Moch, 111- 112)

Indeed, because agricultural land owners switched to short term cultivation practices during this time, much of the 19th century French peasantry were forced to look to the cities for year long work. This created a fundamental shift in how French society was structured.

Direct Quotes: the integrated quote

• Market capitalism had a direct effect on French rural labor and migration patterns in the 19th century. As professor Leslie Moch illustrates “large farms tended to hire labor for shorter periods, because labor demand became focused in short seasons as farm production narrowed to one or two labor-intensive crops.” (Moch, 111-112) Indeed, because agricultural land owners switched to short term cultivation practices, a majority of the 19th century French peasantry were forced to look to the cities for year long work. This created a fundamental shift in how French society was structured.

Block Quotes

• Block quotes are typically used when one inserts large sections of text:

• APA = 40 words or more• MLA = 5 lines or longer• Integrate the block quote in the same

manner as you would quotes, following directions in a style guide for formatting.

Paraphrasing & Summarizing

• A paraphrase is the restatement of a text or passage in another form or other words, often to clarify meaning.

• A summary is the presentation of the substance of a body of material in a condensed form or by reducing it to its main points; an abstract

How would you…

• “Western Europe saw drastic changes in rural economies in the nineteenth century, as chances to earn a living year-round by rural manufacture, agricultural work, or a combination of the two were endangered…rather than hire agricultural servants by the year, large farms tended to hire labor for shorter periods, because labor demand became focused in short seasons as farm production narrowed to one or two labor-intensive crops.” (Moch, 111-112)

How would you Paraphrase?

• Moch argues that 19th century capitalist agriculture disrupted year long rural working cycles because large land owning farmers focused more on one or two labor-intensive cash crops rather than on a variety of staples, spread over the course of multiple growing seasons. This had a negative impact on the rural laborer and their ability to work year round.

How would you Summarize?

• In essence, Moch suggests that 19th century capitalism was harmful to rural French wage earners.

• APA: American Psychological Association - Social Sciences

• MLA: Modern Language Association - Humanities

• CMS/CMoS: Chicago Manual of Style - History, Many Professional Publications

• AP: Associated Press - Journalism

Typical Citation Styles

Academic Honesty and

Effective ResearchMethods

Identifying and Avoiding Plagiarism