Plagiarism

Corrine Syster, MLIS Reference & Instruction Librarian ccsyster@hacc.edu | 717-221-1781

HACCs Policies

Leahy, Dory. 2011-2012 Student Planner. Harrisburg Area Community College. 2011. Web. 1 Sept. 2011

Academic Procedure 594

II. DEFINITIONS Academic dishonesty is defined as an intentional act of deception in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or effort of another person, or uses unauthorized material or fabricated information in any academic work. It includes, but is not limited to: B. Plagiarism the offering of someone elses work, words, or idea as ones own or using material from another source without acknowledgement.

Defining Plagiarism
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Plagiarism is the act of representing as ones own original work the creative works of another, without appropriate acknowledgement of the author or source1
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Taking another persons work Misrepresentation as own work Lack of acknowledgment

"Academic Honesty and Plagiarism." University of Melbourne. 14 Feb. 2008. University of Melbourne. Web. 14 July 2008.

Things that Count as Plagiarism:

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No Citation Misleading Citation Incorrect Citation Overuse of quotations Misrepresentation of quotations Overuse of paraphrases Misrepresentation of paraphrases

Why students plagiarize

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Lack of research skills Lack of writing skills Confusion about online information Confusion about how to cite sources Misconceptions about terminology Poor organization and time management Pressure to pass Lazy and/or indifferent

Why you should care

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Immediate implications Future problems

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Degree Employment Reputation

Why you need to cite

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Avoid plagiarism Give credit where credit is due Let others know where you are getting information Lend credibility to your writing

Munroe, Randall. Wikipedian Protester. XKCD. Web. July 15, 2008.

What to cite
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Information from ` Printed materials (Books, magazines, newspapers) ` Electronic materials (Websites, e-journals, zines, library databases, e-mail) ` Nonprint materials (TV, radio, interview, painting) Any idea that isnt your own (Borrowed knowledge) ` Direct quotations ` Paraphrases ` Facts

What you dont need to cite

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Thing you have created, but not published Your opinion Common knowledge
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Undisputed historical facts Found repeatedly in reading Easily found in general sources
Note: Even experts agree that there is no clear definition of what counts as common knowledge, and it might be different for people in a different field of study (librarians vs. pediatricians).

Common Knowledge vs. Borrowed Knowledge

Common Knowledge: Andrew Jacksons first Vice President, John C. Calhoun, became the first man to resign from the office of Vice President. Borrowed Knowledge: Andrew Jackson despised his former Vice President, and is quoted as saying I have only two regrets: I didnt shoot Henry Clay and I didnt hang John Calhoun. (Humes, 107)

Humes, James. Which President Killed a Man? New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002.

Common Knowledge vs. Borrowed Knowledge

Common Andrew Jacksons first Vice President, John C. Calhoun, became the first man to resign from the office of Vice President. Borrowed Knowledge: Andrew Jackson despised his former Vice President, and is quoted as saying I have only two regrets: I didnt shoot Henry Clay and I didnt hang John Calhoun. (Humes, 107)
Did he say this to you?
Humes, James. Which President Killed a Man? New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002.

Undisputed Historical Fact Knowledge:

Which is most likely which? (Common or Borrowed)

a) Vincent van Gogh suffered from many neurological disorders, including hallucinations, which were made worse by habitual alcohol abuse. b) Vincent van Gogh suffered from serious mental illness.

Van Gogh,Vincent. Self Portrait with a Bandaged Ear [detail]. 1889. Painting. Courtland Institute Gallery, London. Web. 1 Sept. 2011.

Which is most likely which? (Common or Borrowed)

Borrowed:

Are you a doctor?

a) Vincent van Gogh suffered from many neurological disorders, including hallucinations, which were made worse by habitual alcohol abuse.
Common:

b) Vincent vanDid you suffered Gogh from serious mental illness. drink with
him?

Van Gogh,Vincent. Self Portrait with a Bandaged Ear [detail]. 1889. Painting. Courtland Institute Gallery, London. Web. 1 Sept. 2011.

Tips for avoiding Plagiarism

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When in doubt, cite it Do your own work

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Use other work sparingly Mostly your ideas Keep track of what you looked at Make notes of what idea belongs to who Consult others first, not last!! You will always cite it TWICE once in the text, once at the end

Take good notes

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Cite AS you write, not AFTER

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