Plagiarism Resources

Plagiarism could include:

• Copying and pasting content from a source
• Reusing a paper you wrote for another class
• Purchasing and submitting a paper written by another student or an essay writing service
• Failing to cite another person’s works in a paper
• Citing a source improperly or incorrectly
• Copying format and organization of another source

Common forms that emerge in written assignments:

• Direct quotations
• Paraphrasing
• Summarizing

What is a direct quotation?

A direct quotation is taking a statement from a source word-for-word. This could be part of sentence, and entire sentence, or several sentences.

Short phrases or single words could be used if an author uses them in a specific context. For example, an author has published their original research on a topic that hasn't been explored very closely. They coin a new phrase to describe their findings. This would be quoted if used in a written assignment.

Quotes are always cited in-text. They can only be used to supplement your assignment and your own ideas. Don't overuse them.

When can I use them?

• To show that another source supports your ideas
• To present another source's position or argument
• To include significant and specific language (see the example above)
• If paraphrasing or summarizing would detract from the source's meaning

How do I use them in my written assignment?

• Quotes must be introduced and integrated into your own sentences (they can't be dropped into an assignment as a standalone sentence)
• Use a signal phrase to let your reader know where the quote came from:
  • As Jones (2017) states, "the results show that painkillers were less effective long-term than alternative treatments" (p. 20).
• Use an assertion that connects the quote to your own ideas:
  • Through the process of teaching Information Literacy it became apparent that faculty “insisted that students see writing as a process” (Jacobs, 2010, p. 20); however, they failed to remember that proper research should conducted in the same manner.
• Use a connecting phrase in conjunction with the assertion to help the sentence flow better (as, so, because, as a result, etc.)
• Always surround a quote with quotation marks
• Always cite quotes in-text, including a page or paragraph number

What is a paraphrase?

A paraphrase is when a source's ideas are put into your own words.

What is a summary?

A summary takes a large amount of information (like a book chapter) from a source and condenses it to its main points.

What makes an acceptable paraphrase?

• Fundamentally changes the structure of the original source
• Retains the original ideas
• Cites the sources
• Is only used to supplement your own ideas

How can I paraphrase or summarize in my written assignment?

• Practice, practice, practice!
• When reading, make sure you understand the ideas and concepts as a whole rather than pausing to write down individual phrases or ideas
• Be selective with the information and use only information that makes a point and supports your ideas
• Think of what "your own words" would be if describing the information to a friend
• After reading and understanding the source's ideas, look away from it for an hour or two, then write your paraphrase
  • The next day, check your paraphrase against the original
• Try to paraphrase the same information multiple times, then compare each paraphrase to the original
• Always cite in-text
• Note: Direct quotations can be used within paraphrases

What is self-plagiarism?

Self-plagiarism occurs when students submit old work/information as though it were new, without any major changes to the content. It could be an entire paper, or just a passage. In the Aultman College Catalog, this is referred to as "multiple submissions."

The entire idea of self-plagiarism may seem strange. You might wonder, "if plagiarism is theft, how can I even steal from myself?" Instead, it's helpful to think of self-plagiarism in terms of deceiving your audience.

An example

For example, this semester you are assigned to write a paper on how a specific population seeks health care and treatment. Last semester, you had a very similar assignment, so you decide to submit the paper again. You change the title and running head, and throw in another citation on the reference page. You don't change anything else or ask your professor if this is acceptable.

In submitting this assignment, you are actively deceiving your professor into thinking that you did original work for the assignment. You are also deceiving them into thinking that you actually understood concepts from the course and applied your knowledge from the course to the assignment.