Plagiarism:

A Guide for Students

William Allan Kritsonis, PhD

Professor

PhD Program in Educational Leadership

Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling

Whitlowe R. Green College of Education

Prairie View A&M University

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What is “Plagiarism?” Plagiarism is defined as the following:

Failing to credit sources used in a work or product in

an attempt to pass off the work as one’s own (not

referencing original source)

Attempting to receive credit for work performed by

another; including papers obtained in whole or in part

from individuals or other sources (submitting

someone else’s original work)

Paraphrasing not done in a proper way

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Why is it Wrong?

Plagiarism is a form of cheating. It is an offense

under the Prairie View A&M’s University Policy

on Academic Honesty.

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How Can You Avoid Plagiarism?

Paraphrase information taken from sources. It

must be in your own words. Changing one or

two words does not count.

Only technical terms should be repeated.

Exact words still used must have quotation

marks around them.

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How Can I Avoid Plagiarism?(Cont’d)

Quote directly from the source. Use the exact

wording as well as quotation marks. Quoting

without the use of quotation marks is

considered plagiarism.

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How Can I Avoid Plagiarism? (Cont’d)

Always cite the source, whether you are

paraphrasing or quoting. If you are not familiar

with proper citation form, please consult with

your professor or classmates to determine if

your professor prefers the APA or MLA style.

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How Can I Avoid Plagiarism? (Cont’d)

Use your own ideas, words, and interpretation

When in doubt, cite!

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Examples of Proper Citing

Sources (APA)

Short quote of fewer than 40 words:

“Philosophy is a theoretical or logical analysis of the principles underlying conduct, thought, knowledge, and the nature of the universe” (Kritsonis, 2003, p. 3) .

Long quote of 40+ words (Block Quote):

People express opinions and maintain certain beliefs concerning what is right and what is good. These opinions have remained in a state of debate and occasionally in a state of confusion concerning interpretation .Individual philosophers have left their marks of past thoughts and practices. They are infused in present-day educational settings. (Kritsonis, 2003, p. 3)

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Example of Corresponding

Reference

Kritsonis, W.A. (2003). Philosophy in education.

National FORUM Journal of Multicultural

Education, 15(1), 3. Retrieved from

www.nationalforum.com

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Dangers of Using the Internet

The internet has made plagiarism easier with

access to sites that will sell you an essay or term

paper, search engines, journals, articles,

newspapers, encyclopedias, and so forth.

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Plagiarism Example

A student copies, improperly paraphrases, or

omits an original source obtained from the

Internet or other source and gives the work to

his/her professor. The professor assumes the

work is the student’s original thoughts and ideas.

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When is It OK Not to Cite?

When you are stating a fact that is common

knowledge. If it is something you knew

without looking it up, and believe that most

people reading your paper would already know

the information, that’s common knowledge.

When you are presenting your own ideas.

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Examples of Common Knowledge

Common knowledge consists of:

Information that is easily observed –Rain falls from the sky, but not a detailed explanation of why this happens.

Commonly reported facts –There are nine planets in our solar system, but not information about the planets.

Common sayings such as proverbs – “What goes up must come down.”

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Presenting Your Own

Ideas

If you are using a previous paper or presentation,

that you created, you must cite your previous

work. Otherwise, you are committing self-

plagiarism.

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What Happens if You Are Found

Plagiarizing a Source?

Grade Penalty

Letter of Reprimand

Probation

Suspension

Dismissal

Expulsion

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Beware

There are sites that help professors analyze

students’ work for plagiarism. Some of these

sites include:

Safe Assign (PVAMU)

Turnitin

www.grammarly.com

www.ithenticate.com/

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Conclusion

Plagiarism only hurts you. Your professor cannot accurately critique your work if it is not your own work. You cannot get practice in writing or organizing your own thoughts. In essence, you are cheating yourself.

I will not commit plagiarism.

I will not commit plagiarism.

I will not commit plagiarism.

Bottom Line: You can be expelled from PVAMU.

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References

Brannan ,J. A. (n.d.). Plagiarism. Retrieved from

http://www.slideshare.net/kathykhan/plagiarism-powerpoint-2427193

Google (n.d.). Plagiarism images. Retrieved from

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1920&bih=813&gbv=2&tbm

=isch&sa=1&q=plagiarism&oq=plag&aq=1&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=c&

gs_upl=444688l446766l0l450219l4l3l0l0l0l0l406l937l2-2.0.1l3

Kritsonis, W.A. (2003). Philosophy in education. National FORUM Journal of

Multicultural Education, 15(1), 3. Retrieved from

www.nationalforum.com

PVAMU (2008, February 19). Plagiarism FAQ. Bulletin of Prairie View A&M

University, 82(1), 44.

Walrath, W. (n.d.). Plagiarism: Don’t do it! Retrieved from

www.tuhsd.k12.az.us/mdn/departments/lrtc/plagiarism.ppt

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