PLAGIARISM SO WHAT S THE BIG DEAL? For Students taking Criminal Justice and Legal Assistant Studies Courses
This short presentation will: Help you to understand what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. Identify the consequences of committing plagiarism and/or other acts of academic dishonesty. Help you understand the difference between paraphrasing, quoting, and plagiarism.
Plagiarism To plagiarize means to take someone else s words and/or ideas (or patterns of ideas) and to present them to the reader as if they are yours. Plagiarism is an act of stealing It is also an unwise act because it : a) does not help you learn and b) you can be severely punished for it. See UTC Student Handbook
Plagiarism includes: words ideas images sounds
Plagiarism and improper citations may occur: Intentionally when you mean to mislead others and represent work as your own when it is not Because of Carelessness when you are careless and do not properly credit/cite material that is someone else s work (published or unpublished)
Intentional Acts that violate the Honor Code Copying a friend s work Buying papers or homework assignments Copying material off an internet site without citing the source Using a web site that sells research papers Cutting and pasting material without a citation Paraphrasing and only changing a few words or using synonyms of words Submitting a paper more than once to different instructors
Unintentional Acts Sloppy citations lack information have inaccurate information Paraphrasing inappropriately Improper documentation of sources
If you plagiarize: You may jeopardize your academic career and your reputation BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY You cheat yourself. Failing to complete assignments means you do not develop intellectually, learn critical thinking skills, and improve writing skills. An education costs a lot of money get what you paid for!
Penalties for Plagiarism The instructor can give you a failing grade on the assignment or in the course You can be referred to Honor Court and have a formal finding put on your record Honor Court can rule: You receive an F in the course You are to be placed on disciplinary probation You are suspended from UTC You are dismissed from UTC
Is this plagiarism? Original Source: While it is not feasible to abandon the use of the automobile, foot patrol can and has been integrated by many agencies into their overall strategy. [Gaines, L.; Kappeler, V., and Vaughn, J. (1999). Anderson: Cincinnati, OH. (p. 200). Student paper: While most think it is not practical to completely get rid of patrol cars, many think that foot patrols can be used in agencies. Yes No
Correct: This is plagiarism. Obviously, using the exact sentence without a citation is plagiarism, but this example also is plagiarism. The student has merely changed a few words from the original statement without a citation. Continue
Incorrect: This is plagiarism. Obviously, using the exact sentence without a citation is plagiarism, but this example also is plagiarism. The student has merely changed a few words from the original statement without a citation. Original Source: While it is not feasible to abandon the use of the automobile, foot patrol can and has been integrated by many agencies into their overall strategy. [Gaines, L.; Kappeler, V., and Vaughn, J. (1999). Anderson: Cincinnati, OH. (p. 200). Student paper: While most think it is not practical to completely get rid of patrol cars, many think that foot patrols can be used in agencies.
A paraphrase: uses another author's idea, but it is expressed in the student s own words. Quotation marks are not required unless the material is presented word for word. Just changing a few words from the original doesn't count! That is still plagiarism and not paraphrasing.
Is this plagiarism? Original Source: While it is not feasible to abandon the use of the automobile, foot patrol can and has been integrated by many agencies into their overall strategy. [Gaines, L.; Kappeler, V., and Vaughn, J. (1999). Anderson: Cincinnati, OH. (p. 200). Student paper: While most think it is not practical to completely get rid of patrol cars, many think that foot patrols can be used in agencies (Gaines, Kappeler, & Vaughn,1999, p. 200). Yes No
Correct: This is plagiarism. Obviously, using the exact sentence without a citation is plagiarism, but this example also is plagiarism. The student has merely changed a few words from the original statement. Even though the author was cited, the student followed the authors words so closely that is plagiarizing. If this point is that important to your paper, the student you should quote the authors directly with the use of direct quotations and the appropriate citation. Another way to paraphrase this point can be seen on the next slide. Continue
Incorrect: This is plagiarism. Obviously, using the exact sentence without a citation is plagiarism, but this example also is plagiarism. The student has merely changed a few words from the original statement without a citation. Original Source: While it is not feasible to abandon the use of the automobile, foot patrol can and has been integrated by many agencies into their overall strategy. [Gaines, L.; Kappeler, V., and Vaughn, J. (1999). Anderson: Cincinnati, OH. (p. 200). Student paper: While most think it is not practical to completely get rid of patrol cars, many think that foot patrols can be used in agencies.
Correct way to paraphrase: Original source: While it is not feasible to abandon the use of the automobile, foot patrol can and has been integrated by many agencies into their overall strategy. Paraphrase: Most departments continue to use automobiles to patrol because it is impossible to staff enough officers to use foot patrol alone. Most departments, however, have at least some officers who patrol on foot. (Gaines, Kappeler, & Vaughn,1999, p. 200).
Is this plagiarism? Student paper: Most police officers who are patrolling on the street wear uniforms. Yes No
This is NOT plagiarism. While there are no citations, general knowledge does NOT have to be cited. For example, George Washington was the first president of the US. General knowledge is tricky because there is a degree of interpretation as to what is and what is NOT a part of this category. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Is this plagiarism? Student paper: The criminal justice system is extremely costly to run and maintain. Yes No
Correct -- because This is a trick question. While the statement is generally common knowledge, this exact sentence was taken out of another source without a citation. In order to cite it should read, The criminal justice system is extremely costly to run and maintain (Siegel, 2008, p. 11). If the student has used information from this source and then fails to cite this sentence, the instructor will probably view it as intentional plagiarism. Continue
Incorrect -- because This is a trick question. While the statement is generally common knowledge, this exact sentence was taken out of another source without a citation. In order to cite it should read, The criminal justice system is extremely costly to run and maintain (Siegel, 2008, p. 11). If the student has used information from this source and then fails to cite this sentence, the instructor will probably view it as intentional plagiarism.
Is this plagiarism? Student paper: Murder fell 39% in the US from 1990-1999. Yes No
It is improper use of citations. If you have used a direct quote, some instructors may treat it as plagiarism. Anytime a specific statistic is used, the author must cite the source (table, page number, web site or where ever the original fact came from). You must also provide a footnote for any chart, graph, figure, picture or table taken directly from another source. Continue
It is improper use of citations. If you have used a direct quote, some instructors may treat it as plagiarism. Anytime a specific statistic is used, the author must cite the source (table, page number, web site or where ever the original fact came from). You must also provide a footnote for any chart, graph, figure, picture or table taken directly from another source.
Is this plagiarism? Student paper: After interviewing 5 victims as assigned, 4 of them, or 80% were very traumatized by their experience. Yes No
Correct -- because This is your conclusion based on your assignment from the instructor to interview victims. You are synthesizing the information you gathered from the victims and reporting it in your paper. You do not need to cite this information. Continue
Incorrect: This is not plagiarism. This is your conclusion based on your assignment from the instructor to interview victims. You are synthesizing the information you gathered from the victims and reporting it in your paper. You do not need to cite this information.
Is this plagiarism? Student paper states: After reviewing the papers assigned on fear of crime, most of the authors argue that women are more fearful than men. One of the problems with these studies, however, is that they fail to consider what types of crimes in their studies. Perhaps women are found to be more fearful because they are afraid of rape while men might be more afraid of robbery. In order to truly understand fear of crime, studies must look at specific types of crime. Yes No
Correct -- because This is your conclusion based on your readings. You are analyzing the studies you read and critiquing them. When you use your own thoughts and words to analyze material, it is NOT plagiarism, unless you are using the words of someone else who has made this critique. Continue
Incorrect: This is not plagiarism. This is your conclusion based on your readings. You are analyzing the studies you read and critiquing them. When you use your own thoughts and words to analyze material, it is NOT plagiarism, unless you are using the words of someone else who has made this critique.
Is this plagiarism? Student paper: It is clear that most of the research on crime rates shows that crime generally has declined in the past 20-25 years (Jones, 2005; Smith, 2007; Wilson, 2009). Yes No
Correct -- because This statement is in the students original words and is a summary of his/her readings and they have cited the overall conclusions of several authors. When you use your own thoughts and words to summarize material is NOT plagiarism as long as you have cited the authors that you are summarizing. Continue
Incorrect: This is not plagiarism. This statement is in the students original words and is a summary of his/her readings and they have cited the overall conclusions of several authors. When you use your own thoughts and words to summarize material is NOT plagiarism as long as you have cited the authors that you are summarizing.
Is this plagiarism? Student paper: (This statement was taken word for work from Wikipedia on the internet.) Several methods for measuring crime exist, including household surveys, hospital or insurance records, and compilations by police and similar law enforcement agencies. Yes No
Correct -- because It does not matter what the source of the material is when it comes to rules about plagiarism. Students must apply the same rules to citing internet citations. The rules for internet citations are still evolving so you may want to ask your instructor how they want this information documented. Continue
Incorrect: This is plagiarism. It does not matter what the source of the material is when it comes to rules about plagiarism. Students must apply the same rules to citing internet citations. The rules for internet citations are still evolving so you may want to ask your instructor how they want this information documented.
Use a citation when: You use an original idea from one of your sources, whether you quote or paraphrase it You summarize original ideas from one of your sources You use factual information that is not common knowledge You quote directly from a source You use a date or fact that might be disputed
To avoid any accusation of plagiarism: When in doubt cite the material Be sure you understand the citation style required by the instructor If in doubt about citation expectations, talk to your instructor Take notes carefully and record all reference information for your paper
Don t allow yourself to fall for excuses: Everyone does it. I m too busy. No one will know. I ll never get caught. I can t do the work.
Honor Pledge I have reviewed the CRMJ/LAS plagiarism review. I will not steal, cheat, plagiarize, or do anything that would bring dishonor to myself or that would require a referral to Honors Court. I understand that if I commit these acts there will be consequences.