Plagiarism ranges from copying word-for-word to paraphrasing a passage without
credit and changing only a few words. Below is a sentence from a book. The original
source is followed by its use in three student papers.
For each student's version check the pull-down box to see if the passage would
be considered plagiarism.
| Student |
Example Written Content |
| Abbie |
The telephone was a convenience, enabling
Americans to do more casually and with less effort what they had already
been doing before.
Comments
on Abbie's passage (click me):
This is plagiarism in its worst form. Abbie does not indicate that
the words and ideas belong to Boorstin, leaving her readers to believe
the words are hers. She has stolen the words and ideas and attempted to
cover the theft by changing or omitting an occasional word.
|
| Brian |
Daniel J. Boorstin argues that the
telephone was only a convenience, permitting Americans to do more casually
and with less effort what they had already been doing before.
Comments
on Brian's passage (click me):
Even though Brian acknowledges his source, this is plagiarism. He has
copied the original almost word for word, yet he has not supplied quotation
marks to indicate the extent of his borrowing.
|
| Chad |
Daniel J. Boorstin has noted that most
Americans considered the telephone as simply "a convenience," an instrument
that allowed them "to do more casually and with less effort what they had
already been doing before."2
Sample Foot Note:
1 (Daniel J. Boorstin, The Americans: The Democratic Experience,
page 390.
2 Excerpt, examples, and commentary below are from James M. McCrimmon, Writing
With A Purpose, page 499.)
Comments
on Chad's passage (click me):
Chad has done a good job. He has identified his source at the beginning
of the paragraph, letting readers know who is being quoted and has provided
a footnote directing them to the exact source of the statement. He has
paraphrased some of Boorstin's words and quoted others, but makes it clear
to the reader which words are his and which belong to Boorstin.
|
Print
Module 6