How to Avoid Misusing Source Material in Your Written Work

How to Avoid Misusing Source

Material

in Your Written Work

A Common Misunderstanding

Many students arrive at BU with a flawed understanding of how or when to credit sources in their writing.

They have always misused sources by making small changes to the original language without acknowledging those changes. They also borrow language without properly crediting the source.

This PowerPoint aims to help students understand what is expected of them.

Credible and Ethical Credible and Ethical Use of Source MaterialUse of Source Material

I. Direct QuotationI. Direct Quotation

II. Summary and ParaphraseII. Summary and Paraphrase

Problems to AvoidProblems to Avoid

1. plagiarism (kidnapping) of 1. plagiarism (kidnapping) of languagelanguage

2. plagiarism (kidnapping) of 2. plagiarism (kidnapping) of ideasideas

3. intentional misrepresentation of source through 3. intentional misrepresentation of source through omissionomission or or alteration of contextalteration of context

4. misrepresentation of a source through 4. misrepresentation of a source through errorerror

GOOD DIRECT QUOTATION?GOOD DIRECT QUOTATION?

ORIGINALORIGINAL

The fact is that we all live our lives in groups…. Most people … are always The fact is that we all live our lives in groups…. Most people … are always seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they look for seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they look for another. We are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with that. another. We are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with that. But what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, or groups, but not But what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, or groups, but not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us. (49-50) understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us. (49-50)

Direct QuotationDirect Quotation

While I believe that humans should behave in a civilized manner, some While I believe that humans should behave in a civilized manner, some people think of us as animals: “We are group animals” (Lessing 49-50). people think of us as animals: “We are group animals” (Lessing 49-50).


ORIGINALORIGINAL

The fact is that we all live our lives in groups…. Most people … are always seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they look for another. We are group animalsWe are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with that. But what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, or groups, but not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us. (49-50)


While I believe that humans should behave in a civilized manner, some While I believe that humans should behave in a civilized manner, some people think of us as animals: “We are group animals” (Lessing 49-50). people think of us as animals: “We are group animals” (Lessing 49-50).

MISREPRESENTATION—Quotation is placed in a new context that MISREPRESENTATION—Quotation is placed in a new context that changes its meaning.changes its meaning.


ORIGINALORIGINAL

The fact is that we all live our lives in groups…. Most people … are The fact is that we all live our lives in groups…. Most people … are always seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they look always seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they look for another. We are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with for another. We are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with that. But what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, or groups, but that. But what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, or groups, but not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us. (49-not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us. (49-50) 50)


Doris Lessing says that “[w]e are group animals still, and there is nothing Doris Lessing says that “[w]e are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us” (49-50).govern us” (49-50).


ORIGINALORIGINAL

The fact is that we all live our lives in groups…. Most people … are always seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they look for another. We are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with that. But what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, or groups, but not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us. (49-50)


Doris Lessing says that “[w]e are group animals still, and there is nothing “[w]e are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us” (49-50).govern us” (49-50).

MISREPRESENTATION—Omitted words change the meaning of the MISREPRESENTATION—Omitted words change the meaning of the original.original.

PUNCTUATIONPUNCTUATION

ORIGINALORIGINAL


Doris Lessing says that Doris Lessing says that ““[w]e are group animals still, and there is nothing [w]e are group animals still, and there is nothing

wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us” (49-50). govern us” (49-50).

(Quotation mark tells readers that you will be using language from another source.)


ORIGINAL


Doris Lessing says that “Doris Lessing says that “[[ww]]e are group animals still, and there is nothing e are group animals still, and there is nothing

wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us” (49-50). govern us” (49-50).

(Editorial bracket tells readers that you are making some change to the original text.)

NOTE: CMS and APA do not require editorial brackets for case (W>w) changes.


ORIGINALORIGINAL


Doris Lessing says that “[w]e are group animals still, and there is nothing Doris Lessing says that “[w]e are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and

govern usgovern us”” (49-50 (49-50).

(End quotation mark tells readers that you have finished using language from another source.)

CITATIONCITATION

ORIGINALORIGINAL


Doris Lessing says that “[w]e are group animals still, and there is nothing Doris Lessing says that “[w]e are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with … . not wrong with … . not understanding the social laws that govern groups and

govern us” (49-50). (Parenthetical information refers readers to your References or Works Cited page where they can get detailed information about the original text. Each style system has a different format for both in-text and bibliographic entries.)

IT IS NEVER LEGITIMATE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO ANOTHER’S LANGUAGE

WITHOUT SHOWING YOUR READERS USING [brackets]

WHAT CHANGES YOU HAVE MADE.

Summary & Paraphrase—Problems to AvoidSummary & Paraphrase—Problems to Avoid

1. plagiarism (kidnapping) of 1. plagiarism (kidnapping) of languagelanguage

2. plagiarism (kidnapping) of 2. plagiarism (kidnapping) of ideasideas

3. intentional misrepresentation of source through 3. intentional misrepresentation of source through omissionomission or or alteration of contextalteration of context

4. misrepresentation of a source through 4. misrepresentation of a source through errorerror

GOOD SUMMARY?GOOD SUMMARY?

ORIGINALORIGINAL

The fact is that we all live our lives in groups…. Most people … are always The fact is that we all live our lives in groups…. Most people … are always seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they look for seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they look for another. We are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with another. We are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with that. But what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, or groups, that. But what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, or groups, but not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us. but not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us. (49-50) (49-50)

In “Group Minds” Doris Lessing claims that what is dangerous is not the In “Group Minds” Doris Lessing claims that what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, but not understanding the group laws that govern belonging to a group, but not understanding the group laws that govern us (49-50). us (49-50).

GOOD SUMMARY?GOOD SUMMARY?

ORIGINALORIGINAL


In “Group Minds” Doris Lessing claims that what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, but not understanding the group laws that govern us (49-50).

PLAGIARIZED--I am giving Lessing credit for the idea, but I’m stealing her language (even though I’m not stealing it word for word).

GOOD PARAPHRASE?GOOD PARAPHRASE?

ORIGINALORIGINAL

““Readers over the ages have had to learn this game of literacy, how to conform themselves to the projections of the writers they read, or at least how to operate in terms of these projections. They have to know how to play the game of being a member of an audience that ‘really’ doesn’t exist” (Ong 12).

MY PARAPHRASEMY PARAPHRASE

In addition to discussing how successful writers can fictionalize an In addition to discussing how successful writers can fictionalize an audience, Ong also discusses how readers have had to learn the game of audience, Ong also discusses how readers have had to learn the game of literacy by conforming themselves to be the imagined audience of the literacy by conforming themselves to be the imagined audience of the writers they read. They have to know how to play the game of being a writers they read. They have to know how to play the game of being a member of an audience that doesn’t actually exist (Ong 12).member of an audience that doesn’t actually exist (Ong 12).

Misuse (Plagiarism) of LanguageMisuse (Plagiarism) of Language

ORIGINALORIGINAL

“Readers over the ages have had to learn this game of literacy, how to conform themselves to the projections of the writers they read, or at least how to operate in terms of these projections. They have to know how to play the game of being a member of an audience that ‘really’ doesn’t exist” (Ong 12).

“MY” PARAPHRASE

In addition to discussing how successful writers can fictionalize an audience, Ong also discusses how readers have had to learn the game of literacy by conforming themselves to be the imagined audience of the writers they read. They have to know how to play the game of being a member of an audience that doesn’t actually exist (Ong 12).

What I Actually WroteWhat I Actually Wrote

ORIGINALORIGINAL

“Readers over the ages have had to learn this game of literacy, how to conform themselves to the projections of the writers they read, or at least how to operate in terms of these projections. They have to know how to play the game of being a member of an audience that ‘really’ doesn’t exist” (Ong 12).

“MY” PARAPHRASE

In addition to discussing how successful writers can fictionalize an audience, Ong also discusses how readers have had to learn the game of literacy by conforming themselves to be the imagined audience of the writers they read. They have to know how to play the game of being a member of an audience that doesn’t actually exist (Ong 12).



I am a firm believer that while it is fine for us to always be in groups, what might be harmful to us is not realizing how we are affected by them.



I am a firm believer that while it is fine for us to always be in groups, what might be harmful to us is not realizing how we are affected by them.

PLAGIARIZED--Now I’m using my own words to steal Lessing’s idea and pass it off as my own.


The fact is that we all live our lives in groups…. Most people … are The fact is that we all live our lives in groups…. Most people … are always seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they always seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they look for another. We are group animals still, and there is nothing look for another. We are group animals still, and there is nothing wrong with that. But what is dangerous is not the belonging to a wrong with that. But what is dangerous is not the belonging to a group, or groups, but not understanding the social laws that govern group, or groups, but not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us. (49-50) groups and govern us. (49-50)

In “Group Minds” Doris Lessing claims that it is dangerous to belong to In “Group Minds” Doris Lessing claims that it is dangerous to belong to groups, especially if we don’t understand the group’s laws that govern groups, especially if we don’t understand the group’s laws that govern us (49-50).us (49-50).



In “Group Minds” Doris Lessing claims that it is dangerous to belong to groups, especially if we don’t understand the group’s laws that govern us (49-50).

MISREPRESENTATION—Probably through error rather than MISREPRESENTATION—Probably through error rather than intention.intention.

SUCCESSFUL PARAPHRASESUCCESSFUL PARAPHRASE

ORIGINAL (paragraph 4)ORIGINAL (paragraph 4)


In “Group Minds” Doris Lessing claims that though we typically live out our lives within groups, and though it is normal to belong to many groups, we might be affected by our inability to recognize the ways those groups might influence our thoughts, beliefs, or actions (49-50).

Paraphrase is Not Editing

The idea that to paraphrase is to “change” the original language does not accurately describe what is expected of writers.

To paraphrase is to interpret for your self an idea and then represent it in your own language, and to credit the original for the idea.

STRATEGYSTRATEGY

• Read and interpret the idea to yourself.

• Close the book/laptop/screen.

• Paraphrase what you understand.

• Reread the original asking two questions

a) Am I illegitimately borrowing language?

b) Have I adequately captured the idea?

• If you are satisfied, move on. If not, do it again.

Improve Your UnderstandingMany students have always misused sources without hearing from teachers or faculty that what they’re doing is wrong. It is your responsibility to understand how to legitimately work with source material. After viewing this presentation, they are often confused. Here are two ways to take the initiative.

•Don’t wait to see whether or not your work is right based on feedback; ask your faculty questions before you turn in final drafts.

•Come to the University Writing Center with your draft and your source material and ask us to help you understand how to do it legitimately.

Works Cited

Lessing, Doris. The Prisons We Choose to Live Inside. Toronto: CBC Enterprises, 1986. Print.

Documents

How to Avoid Misusing Source Material in Your Written Work