Avoiding Plagiarism

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Avoiding Plagiarism

• A guide for MRC students

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What is Plagiarism?

• Plagiarism is submitting or using the ideas,
  words, images, code, music or work of others as
  though it were your own. It can include
• Copying or paraphrasing material from books,
  articles, the web or other sources without
  correct citation.
• Buying or copying entire papers or projects done
  by others.
• Copying work from a classmate.

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Why is this important?

• FairnessIs it fair if you spend a great deal of
  your time researching, writing and editing your
  paper while your classmate simply gets his
  brothers paper from two years ago?
• IntegritySomewhat simply put, Universities and
  Colleges contribute to the intellectual growth of
  our society. Copied or non-referenced work brings
  into question the value of research done within
  an institution. Employers choose Mount Royal
  grads as they are from an honest institution
  with a good reputation.

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Consequences

• The College has formalized penalties for academic
  dishonesty in the Code of Student Conduct.
• Instructors fill out an Academic Integrity
  Incident Report to deal with issues such as
  plagiarism.
• Students who commit plagiarism may be asked to
  re-write and assignment or may receive a mark of
  zero. Serious cases may result in suspension.

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Plagiarism is usually accidental and the
following steps can help with its avoidance

• Become familiar with citation styles (APA or
  MLA). Ask your instructor which one is preferred.
• Visit the Colleges Learning Skills Centre (T123)
  or the Library for assistance.
• Document and save your resources. Articles from
  library databases can be mailed to any e-mail
  address. All the information you need will be
  included.Try to include all of the information
  you can about a web page Address (http// ,
  date you found the page, title)
• Know the difference between copying,
  paraphrasing, stealing and learn how to correctly
  cite information.

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• Original paragraph
• A new trend towards low-calorie pet food is now
  emerging aimed at owners who have less time to
  exercise and play with their pets and who worry
  their pets are at risk of becoming obese. But
  one of the more bizarre developments is
  shareable treats for human and dog consumption,
  closely followed by dog bakeries.Devaney, P.
  (2003). Wealth of potential in the rise of the
  Gucci poochie. Marketing Week, 26, 32-33.
  Retrieved September 7, 2004, from Business
  Source Premier database.

Copied A variety of new products and services
are making their way into the homes of pet
owners. A new trend towards low-calorie pet food
is now emerging aimed at owners who have less
time to exercise and play with their pets and who
worry their pets are at risk of becoming obese.
Among the more bizarre developments is shareable
treats for human and dog consumption, closely
followed by dog bakeries.Here, the student has
simply added an opening sentence and one extra
word.
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Paraphrased

• A variety of new products and services are
  making their way into the homes of pet owners. As
  owners now have less time to exercise and play
  with their pets a new trend towards low-calorie
  pet food is now emerging. Shareable treats for
  human and dog consumption and doggie bakeries are
  some of the more bizarre developments being
  seen.The student has slightly rearranged
  concepts and added a few new words

Stolen
A variety of new products and services are making
their way into the homes of pet owners. New
trends can be found in a number of pet stores
including such products as low calorie pet foods
which appeal to todays busy pet owner who cant
walk their dog. Also, you can now buy treats to
share with your dog or visit a doggie
bakery.The student has taken the original
concepts and rewritten them in such a way as they
appear to be his/her own ideas.
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Correctly cited examples

• A paraphrased idea must refer to the sourceThe
  pet products and services business is almost
  recession proof (Delaney, 2003).
• OrDelaney (2003) states that the pet products
  and services business is almost recession proof.
  
• Include the page number for a direct quote
  Delaney (2003) points out that pet foods with
  nutritional supplements are now mainstream, while
  high-end brands offer human-grade quality
  food. (p. 32)

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Correctly Citing a long quotation (40 words)

• A variety of new products and services are
  making their way into the homes of pet owners.
  These may be based on lifestyle choices of pet
  owners or shaped by our evolving society. Over
  time we will likely see increasingly diverse
  products and services to meet changing demands.
• A new trend towards low-calorie pet food is now
  emerging aimed at owners who have less time to
  exercise and play with their pets and who worry
  their pets are at risk of becoming obese. But
  one of the more bizarre developments is
  shareable treats for human and dog consumption,
  closely followed by dog bakeries. (Devaney, 2003,
  p. 32)
• See the Colleges APA handout for further
  explanations. Free copies are in the library.

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Conclusion

• Document all ideas not your own.
• Copying from the web is no different than copying
  from a book, magazine or from a friends paper.
• Document all ideas not assumed to be public
  knowledge.
• Changing word order is still plagiarizing
• Pick up a copy of the Colleges free
  documentation handouts.
• Visit the Colleges Learning Center (T123) or
  Library for assistance.