Techniques to avoid Plagiarism?

11 March, 2017

Zakir HossainTeacher-Librarian

How to avoid plagiarism?Quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing are three main ways of integrating others’ ideas in your own academic work.

QuotingQuoting is reproducing words from another source using exactly the same wording, spelling, punctuation, capitalisation and paragraphing.I should quote when I need to add emphasis or focus to an argument. T/FI should quote all the time - so that I can show that I have done my research thoroughly. T/FQuotations should be used rarely and selectively T/FI should quote to incorporate an idea that would lose its effectiveness if paraphrased or summarised. T/FIf I use a relevant well-placed quotation it will add weight to my argument. T/F

How should you integrate a quote? To integrate a quote correctly you should:

Use a signal phrase such as “According to Smith (2008) …”, “Smith (2008) reports …”

Demonstrate the relevance of the quote to your writing by using an introductory phrase or by providing commentary on the quote.

Include quotation marks.

Incorporate a short quote into a paragraph or indent a longer quote.

Include the number of the page or paragraph where you found the quote. 

Demonstrate any changes you have made to the quote, such as shortening it by omitting sections.

Cite and reference it.

© The University of Auckland

What is paraphrasing?Paraphrasing is introducing ideas from another source in your own words. Your “voice” is predominant in a paraphrase and shows your understanding and interpretation of someone else’s thoughts in relation to the topic. I should paraphrase if I want to change the organisation of another author’s words or ideas for emphasis. T/FI should paraphrase to change the original meaning of another author’s words, ideas and thoughts. T/FI should paraphrase to simplify and clarify the original material. T/FI should paraphrase to back up, support or prove my ideas. T/FI should paraphrase to make it clear I understand the author’s point of view. T/F

How should you integrate a paraphrase?Underline key points in the original source.List the main ideas or concepts.Come up with alternative phrases and

synonyms to describe the ideas.Rewrite and reorder these ideas in your

own words.Use a signal phrase where necessary to

embed the author’s name, eg “Smith (1996) states…”, “As indicated by Townsend and Parks (2013)….”

Cite and reference.

What is summarising?Summarising is a short and concise

representation of the key ideas of source material, in your own words.

A summary is shorter than the original text and provides an overview of the subject matter.

 To summarise correctly, you will include only the key ideas and omit the details.

Summaries need to be referenced, just like paraphrases and quotations. 

© The University of Auckland

When should you summarise?I should summarise when I want to

change the meaning of the original text. T/F

I should summarise when I want to condense large amounts of information accurately into the smallest number of words possible. T/F

I should summarise when I want to present the key ideas of the original source in brief. T/F

How should you summarise?Identify the key ideas in the original source.Write down the key ideas in your own

words or use quote marks if replicating original text for emphasis.

Do not add your own reflections on the original text, summarise only.

Remind the reader that someone else has written the original piece of writing throughout your summary: Smith (2009) states…, She further indicates…

Cite and reference the original source.© The University of Auckland

WHEN DO I NEED TO CITE?

Whenever you borrow words or ideaswhenever you use quoteswhenever you paraphrasewhenever you use an idea that

someone else has already expressedwhenever you make specific reference

to the work of anotherwhenever someone else's work has

been critical in developing your own ideas.

• Ideally, no more than 25 percent of your paper should be direct quotations..

• Paraphrase as much as you can..

• Use direct quotations when citing a statistic or original theory..

• Use author's words if they capture a point exactly..

Quick tips

MLA Citation Style

In-text or Parenthetical Citations

Bibliographical references/ Cited works (The first word of your citation match the corresponding entry on your Works Cited page!)

In-Text or Parenthetical Citations

…a system in which you give your source in parentheses immediately

after you give the information.

In-Text Citation – Author & Page No.

(Keeling 125)

Notice there is no “p” and no comma.

The struggle for identity is common during puberty (Keeling 125).

In-Text Citations – Title & Page No.

• Double agents are still widely in use (“Spies” 12-15, 17).

• With prices of energy at new highs, bikes have been increasingly used (“Alternative Transportation” 89).

*Often, articles, editorials, pamphlets, and other materials have no author listed; thus, give the first distinctive word of the title followed by page #

*You add the full title only if it is short. If it is a long title, you only use the first one or two words.

In-Text Citations – Page No. Only

• If you have already mentioned the author’s name, put a page number only:

Keeling states that Plath’s work stands in stark contrast to other confessional poets (58).

Facial transplants pose significant risk to the autoimmune system (American Medical Association 12-43).

In-Text Citation – Organization as Author

Often, an organization serves as the author:Facial transplants pose significant risk to

the autoimmune system (American Medical Association 12-43).

OR

As noted by the American Medical Association, facial transplants pose significant risk to the autoimmune system (12-43).

Citating a direct quotation

When directly quoting a source, place the parenthetical citation after the quote.

Example:Sanders explains that economic woes are due to “the mortgage crisis and poor risk assessment” (20).

Citing a long quotes

The use of nuclear weapons in today’s society is strikingly alarming. Though the United States is the only country to employ it in the past, they are at the same time the country that condemns its use the most. While this may seem hypocritical, is it the most proper action for the United States to make as the global leader. (Taparia 9)

Citing an online sources

Generally, follow the same principals of parenthetical citations to cite online sources.

ExamplesThe economy will rebound with

the new monetary policies (Smith).

Solar power will become the primary source of energy (Williams 2).

Online sources with no author

If there is no author, use the title that begins the citation, either the article or website title.

ExampleElephants are thought to be one

of the smartest mammals (“Smart Elephants”).

Nineteen men and women were convicted (Salem Witchcraft Trials).

Citing authors with same last names

If two or more authors have the same last name, provide both authors' first initials..

Although some medical ethicists claim that cloning will lead to designer children (R. Miller 12), others note that the advantages for medical research outweigh this consideration (A. Miller 46).

Multiple works by the same author If you cite more than one work by a particular

author, include a shortened title for the particular work from which you are quoting to distinguish it from the others. 

ExampleLightenor has argued that computers are not useful tools for small children ("Too Soon" 38), though he has acknowledged elsewhere that early exposure to computer games does lead to better small motor skill development in a child's second and third year ("Hand-Eye Development" 17).

Other forms of In-Text Citations

1. Two authors:(Johnson and Rodriguez 221)

2. Three or more authors:(Johnson et al. 75) “et al.” means “and others”

3. A work with no page numbers (like a webpage):(Hartford)

Example- Hartford suggests the Internet provides more distractions than it does information.

Cited works

“Plagiarism and Citation Basic”. Aceess on 2 Nov 2015 http://www.slideshare.net/caitlingillmett/plagiarism-and-citation-basics

“Trinity College Library”. MLA Citation. Access on 11 Oct 2015 http://www.slideshare.net/caitlingillmett/plagiarism-and-citation-basics

University of Auckland MOOC. Access on 10 Mar 2017 https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/academic-integrity/10/todo/8324