Teaching Avoiding Plagiarism
Dr. Nirmal Kumar Swain Associate Professor & Head
Dept of Library & Information Science
M D University
Rohtak – 304022 (Haryana)
2nd Spell Associate (June 2014) Presentation
Indian Institute of Advanced Studies
Rastrapati Nivas, Shimla – 171 005
June 20, 2014
Agenda
1. Plagiarism consciousness;
2. Plagiarism defined ;
3. Forms of Plagiarism;
4. The Exception: Common Knowledge;
5. Ethical Preaching;
6. Indian Treatment;
7. Strategies to combat plagiarism;
8. Concluding message.
How do we perceive plagiarism
view was expressed by March “Plagiarism often shows up under different names: misappropriation, faulty citation, copyright infringement, literary theft, imitation, cheating, cribbing, and stealing, to name a few (Marsh, 2007, p.1).”
1. Plagiarism consciousness
Plagiarism has become a dishonest feature in the world of academics though of late discussed and debated in India among the academicians. Time was there when plagiarism in any form was acceptable but it is considered as an academic disease which not only damages the quality of education and research but also brings fraudulence to the society as a whole.
Plagiarism consciousness
“Plagiarism accusations can dog and derail professional careers, even of those who have made legitimate or honest errors. The best way to stay out of plagiarism’s bright, unflattering spotlight is to identify citation customs (these will differ according to industry), learn those customs and citation standards, and, where possible, seek training or assistance in mastering and applying those standards (Dames, 2008, p. 23)”.
2. Plagiarism defined
# Plagiarism is the act of using the words of another without giving the originator credit (Anderson, 1998, p.1).”
# Plagiarism is the act of representing as one’s own original work the creative works of another, without appropriate acknowledgment of the author or source (University of Melbourne, 2007),
# is the theft of someone else’s ideas and work. Whether a student copies verbatim or simply rephrases the ideas of another without properly acknowledging the source, the theft is the same (Harvard University Extension School, 2007),
Plagiarism defined
According to the Merriam-Webster OnLine Dictionary, to “plagiarize” means to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own to use (another's production) without crediting the sourceto commit literary theft to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.
What is deduced from all these definitions are as follows: the plagiarists are using someone else’s literary or academic work, or ideas; second, that he or she does so without proper acknowledgement; and third, that mere paraphrasing or rephrasing of such work or ideas in no way be a better option or avoid the crime.
3. Forms of Plagiarism
3.1 Verbatim plagiarism
Verbatim is used when someone copy language word for word from another source and use that language in his own paper, then it is plagiarizing verbatim. This is one of the most generalised forms of plagiarism. Sometimes unnoticed but easily detected form of plagiarism and with no-delay of time, judgement is passed of confirmed plagiarism.
Teachers of college and universities are engaged in publishing their innovative and original ideas in numerous publication forms i.e. books, journals, research reports, reviews etc. A strong publication system is very much required for any nation for its development, especially in the world of research and development.
At the same time, if a researcher chose not to publish the outcomes of his/her research; then he/she may lose the opportunity to contribute to the body of knowledge in the research field and again possibility of chance of losing due recognition for making the discovery or findings (Swain, 2014, p.23).”
--N K Swain. Publish or perish: What the Indian policy makers think about it? University News. 52(15) April 14-20, 2014: 23-27. Print
Plagiarized version
University and college teachers write regular and produce them in various professional journals and that is required for nation for development. At the same time, if a researcher chose not to publish the outcomes of his/her research; then he/she may lose the opportunity to contribute to the body of knowledge in the research field and again possibility of chance of losing due recognition for making the discovery or findings
While this student has written his/her own sentences about the publishing activities, he/she has copied the italicized sentences directly from the source material. He/she has left out one passage from Swain’s paragraph, but has reproduced the rest verbatim.
Acceptable version
Acceptable version # 1 (direct quotation with citation)
College and university teachers produce good works and get published in difference journals and books. In fact, Swain notes that "At the same time, if a researcher chose not to publish the outcomes of his/her research; then he/she may lose the opportunity to contribute to the body of knowledge in the research field and again possibility of chance of losing due recognition for making the discovery or findings” (23).
3.2 Mosaic plagiarism
3.2 Mosaic plagiarismCopying from one or different sources and writing with
few words without either adequately paraphrasing or quoting direct from the sources can bring the result of mosaic plagiarism. Even if someone doesn’t intend to copy the source, he or she may end up committing this category of plagiarism as a result of careless note-taking or misunderstanding over the distinction of the source's ideas and beginning of his or her own ideas.
3.3 Inadequate paraphrase
3.3 Inadequate paraphrase When an author paraphrases the task, it is to distill the source’s ideas in the author’s own words. It does not work if the author simply changes the words here and there and leave the rest. Rather a complete restating the ideas in the paragraph completely in own words is required. The language of the new passage of the author should not be close to the original or the source, if the author does not provide citation. The author must be sure enough that he is using his own words. While doing this it is good to put away the source material while the author writes his own paraphrase.
3.4 Uncited paraphrase
While paraphrasing, the author be cautious enough about the task as in writing own words solve the problem as that idea still belongs to author of the original matter. So simply paraphrasing in own words will not solve the problem despite the author have changed the wording significantly. Quoting can solve many purposes. The reader will get glimpse of some else’s works on your chosen topic, with enough information about the tracing the original or source. The reason is simple as whenever the author does not think up himself or not clear, he needs to credit to the source in which he found them, whether you quote directly or
provide a responsible paraphrase.
3.5 Unusing a uniform citation pattern
Sometimes it looks easier to engage in bibliographical activities but sometimes bring you other intricacies. Authority of citation style changes the rules fully or partially time to time. So style following in particular is to be maintained throughout. In case any confusion, looking carefully, someone can locate at the end to find out the citation pattern
3.6 Self-plagiarism
This is the area in the activities of publication where the author(s) use their own previously published matter or essay. Sometimes without knowing or with intention that at least it will not be treated as a crime. “An author is considered to have committed self-plagiarism when he reuses his own previously published material, without making any reference to the earlier published work. In reality, with greater editorial rigor, and depending on the context of the publication and the amount of text that is copied, the inclusion of the slightest reference to it in the newly published work could well not be sufficient because it does not give a clear indication to the reader (nor to the editor for that matter) of the extent of how much is copied. (Spinak, 2013). This is still debatable.
4. The Exception : Common Knowledge
This is the area in the activities of publication where the author(s) use their own previously published matter or essay. Sometimes without knowing or with intention that at least it will not be treated as a crime. “An author is considered to have committed self-plagiarism when he reuses his own previously published material, without making any reference to the earlier published work. In reality, with greater editorial rigor, and depending on the context of the publication and the amount of text that is copied, the inclusion of the slightest reference to it in the newly published work could well not be sufficient because it does not give a clear indication to the reader (nor to the editor for that matter) of the extent of how much is copied. (Spinak, 2013). This is still debatable.
4. The Exception : Common Knowledge
Much preaching about plagiarism may scare the authors. But certain exception is there as only source material that the author can use in an essay or any academic writings without attribution is material that is considered common knowledge and therefore no attributable to one source. This common knowledge is available and known to the educated readers, such as facts, ideas and languages. But the unique production of individual author(s) is not counted as common knowledge and must be always be cited or credited.
5. Ethical Preaching
Ethical Preaching
Ethical issues have already been said at the beginning of the essay. Unless author ask himself or herself about the ethical principle of not to plagiarise the writings then nothing can happen to this disease. Even if some is aware of the rules and regulations , educated enough to write his own, still adherer to plagiarised principles, only the author’s conscience can a play a great role.
6. Indian treatment to plagiarism
Indian treatment to plagiarism is done with Indian Copyright Act 1957 under the sub-clause ‘copyright right infringement’ which is basically meant for the commercial aspect of copyrighted matter. However it is observed that a less room is left for treating the plagiarism issues which altogether an academic term. So. In this regard some kind changes in the form amendment by clearly mentioning the ‘plagiarism’ with its all probable cases can bring a comfortable position for the writers .
7. Strategies to combat plagiarism
Though there is no ‘The’ strategies to combat the plagiarism cases. It is inner conscious which restrict to do plagiarized act. The mentors or PhD supervisors can teach the students as mentors to refrain from these activities. Anti-plagiarized software these play important role as deterrence from mass copying activities.
8. Concluding Message
In my concluding message , I would like to express is that kindly credit the source you use in your own work. Not only you exactly cite the matter you borrow but also the idea written in the source should also be cited. This credit can further inspire the original authors and people will also cite you when they read your works. This process really can bring both the way benefits. Some changes in the Indian Copyright Act can also provide a benefit in understanding the original and what are the cases under which the plagiarism take place.
Thank You
Thank you
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