Understanding Plagiarism
A Resource for Students
What is plagiarism?
- The act of taking someone else's ideas, words, or writing, and attempting to pass them off as your own.
- To use the ideas/words of another person as one's own without crediting the source.
Types of Plagiarism
- Submitting another's work, word-for-word, as one's own
- Contains significant portions of text from a single source without alterations
- Changing key words and phrases but retaining the essential content of the source
- Paraphrases from multiple sources, made to fit together
- Borrows generously from the writer's work without citation
- Mixes copied material from multiple sources
- Includes proper citation to sources, but the paper contains almost no original work
- Includes proper citation, but relies too closely on the text's original wording and/or structure
(The Plagiarism Spectrum, 4)
Common Consequences of Plagiarism / Academic Dishonesty
- Redoing the assignment
- Failing the assignment
- Receiving a reduced grade
- Failing the course with a grade of XF (indicates that the course was failed due to academic dishonesty and student cannot graduate until they have it removed by going through remediation)
- Counseling or recommending remediation for the student
- Dismissing the student from the University
- Having a record that indicates you committed an act of academic dishonesty
(Texas A&M University Libraries)
Sources
"Texas A&M University Libraries." Consequences of Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
White Paper: The Plagiarism Spectrum. "Instructor Insights into the 10 Types of Plagiarism."
<www.turnitin.com>
Alison Madison
I am a University of Alabama grad. I have been an educator for over 20 years, with 15 of those years being a high school librarian. I have been married to my husband, Nick, for 22 years. Our 16 year old daughter, Hadley, is a junior at East Limestone High School. She keeps us busy with dance competitions and recitals. We also have two dogs, Cooper and Karen.
I enjoy reading, going to concerts, traveling, and watching college football.
Email: akmadison@morgank12.org
Location: 59 Eva Road, Somerville, AL, USA
Twitter: @akmadison
My School Library Philosophy
I believe that school libraries are Common Learning Spaces that promote and foster life-long learning by providing open access to information, including but not limited to books, devices, digital content, and educational technology. The school library is a safe, welcoming, and inviting space for students to create, discover, and share ideas.
I am a University of Alabama graduate. I have been married to my husband, Nick, for 22 years. Our 17 year old daughter, Hadley, is a junior at East Limestone High School. She keeps us busy with dance competitions and recitals. We have two dogs, Cooper and Karen. I enjoy reading, going to concerts, traveling, and watching college football.