Lecture Notes on Plagiarism

Definition of Plagiarism

• Plagiarism is presenting others' words, ideas, images, sounds, or creative expressions as your own without proper credit.
• Can be intentional, reckless, or unintentional.
• Sid Mason's quote: "Plagiarism is lying, cheating, and stealing all at once."

Common Examples of Plagiarism

• Submitting someone else's work: Turning in another's work as your own.
• Copying without credit: Using words or ideas from a source without citation.
• Incorrect attribution: Misquoting or providing wrong sources for information.
• Changing words but not structure: Using synonyms but keeping original sentence structure.
• Excessive borrowing: Relying too much on another's ideas, regardless of credit.

Types of Plagiarism

• Direct Plagiarism: Word-for-word copying without quotes.
• Self-Plagiarism: Submitting one’s own previous work as new.
• Mosaic Plagiarism: Borrowing phrases without proper quoting.
• Accidental Plagiarism: Failing to cite sources unintentionally.

Reasons for Plagiarism

• Laziness: Desire for quick completion.
• Fame: Seeking recognition without personal effort.
• Fear of Success: Avoiding the pressure of achieving.
• Procrastination: Late completion leads to copying.
• Panic or Pressure: Stress leading to plagiarism.
• Misbelief or Misinformation: Copying unverified information.
• Apathy: Indifference towards the consequences of plagiarism.

Consequences of Plagiarism

• Academic Failure: Could result in failing grades or assignments.
• Institutional Actions: Possible suspension or expulsion from schools.
• Loss of Employment: In professional settings, can lead to job loss.
• Fines and Lawsuits: Legal repercussions and monetary penalties.
• Reputation Damage: Long-term impact on credibility.

Avoiding Plagiarism

• Original Work: Create content in your own words and ideas.
• Credit Sources: Always acknowledge where information is sourced from.

Incorporating Sources

Techniques

• Summarizing: Condensing main ideas into your own words.
• Paraphrasing: Restating passages while maintaining original meaning.
• Citations: Acknowledging source material in your work.

Principles of Paraphrasing

• Maintain original meaning and context.
• Length should be similar or slightly shorter.
• Different structure from original text.
• Retain technical terms if necessary.
• Always indicate the source.

Types of Paraphrasing

• Literal Paraphrasing: Changing vocabulary terms only.
• Structural Paraphrasing: Changing both structure and word class.
• Alternative Paraphrasing: Answering questions about the text in your own words.

When to Cite

• Using direct quotes.
• When paraphrasing.
• When using someone else's ideas.

Citation Styles

• APA: Common in education, psychology, and sciences.
• MLA: Used in humanities.
• Chicago: Common in business and history.

Types of Citations

• Author-Oriented Citations: Start with the author's surname and year of publication.
• Text-Oriented Citations: Found at the end of a paragraph, indicating source of ideas.
• Using 'According to': Starting a sentence with the author’s name followed by the year.

Conclusion

• Emphasized the importance of understanding plagiarism and proper source attribution.
• Encouraged students to apply learned techniques in their academic work.