“Changing the words of an original source is not sufficient to prevent plagiarism. If you have retained the essential idea of an original source, and have not cited it, then no matter how drastically you may have altered its context or presentation, you have still plagiarized” (Research Resources. 2003. Turnitin.com. 5 Dec. 2004)

http://www.plagiarism.org

In the past few years, because of the increased availability of on-line resources, the issues of academic dishonesty and specifically plagiarism have become very important to discuss with our students.  Following are some links to help students and faculty discuss the importance of following appropriate protocols for citing written, graphical, pictorial, audio or video sources.  Prior to submitting any assignment where original work of someone else's is used, we urge students to clarify with their instructors the appropriate manner in which to reference these sources.  Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, is a serious offense subject to serious grade consequences and can jeopardize one's standing and admission to the university.

1. What is plagiarism as defined by the UNCW Academic Honor Code?

1. Plagiarism. Plagiarism means the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another person's work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own work. It is doubly unethical, since it deprives the true author of his/her rightful credit and then gives that credit to someone to whom it is not due. The following three examples of plagiarism are described by Harold C. Martin and Richard M. Ohmann in their book, The Logic and Rhetoric of Exposition (1963):
1. Word-for-word copying. Whenever someone else is directly quoted, honesty and courtesy require acknowledgment of the source. The quoted material should be placed in quotation marks and its exact location should be indicated either in the text of the student's paper or in a footnote.
2. The mosaic. To intersperse a few words of one's own here and there while basically copying the work of another is obviously unethical, unless one clearly acknowledges that this is being done. Should there be a valid reason for doing so, then quotation marks or a general footnote should be used to show what belongs to the source and what is one's own contribution.
3. The paraphrase. Once more the crucial point is acknowledgment. Sometimes one can paraphrase in order to simplify, abbreviate, or improve upon an original, but the reader deserves to know what is being presented to him and whose work it represents. Therefore, acknowledgment of the source is required within the text of the student's paper or by a footnote. (UNCW Academic Honor Code)

2. How to I cite sources?

Ø Randall Library Instructional Services

3. Where can I find additional information on plagiarism?

Ø Indiana University Examples of acceptable and unacceptable paraphrases and tips on how students can avoid plagiarism

Ø Purdue University Includes an exercise for students to determine if a situation is an example of plagiarism

Ø Research Resources Includes suggestions for lesson plans and tips to avoid plagiarism