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Heritage I

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The Souls of Black Folk
Allegory of the Cave
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The Importance of Citing Your Sources

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Plagiarism- What does it look like and why do I need to cite my sources?
 
What is plagiarism?
From the Carthage Community Code: Plagiarism is the appropriation by any means of another's work or words and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work or words in one's written [as well as oral] work offered for credit. Some ideas have such wide currency that all may use them freely; some words, such as proverbs and cliches are public property. But when the writer borrows what belongs to another, the writer must indicate the source by way of an internal reference, and she/he must enclose all distinctive words of the source within quotation marks.
Myths:
1.Your professors expect you to write perfect papers.
2. Your professors expect you to know everything there is about the subject you are writing about.

Facts:
1.Your professors expect you to write in your own words.
2. Your professors expect you to ask for help.
Well duh!, I know I will never plagiarize, so here are other reasons why I also need to cite.

1.One day I will win a Nobel prize for literature, so I want to distinguish my work from other sources and authors
2. My professor needs to know where my brilliant ideas ends and another person's begins
3. I may have to go back and look at a source for more information

 
What are the best ways to avoid accidental plagiarism?
1. Learn to cite your soures.
2. When taking direct passages from text, make sure you use "quotation marks".
3. Keep accurate notes of where you found your material.
4. When using web pages print them out, (web material often changes).
5. Save revisions of your work under a different name, example paper1.doc, paper2.doc, etc. This will help you to see the changes in your work and to make sure that you do not mix up your orignal work with somebody else's ideas.
 
What does plagiarism look like?
 

Let's take a look at this orginal source below and see how it can be interpreted by poor citation methods

Original Source
Like all cultures, , Aboriginal cultures have their distinctive features, and, as a result, they are not all the same. The culture of one group varies to some degree in its stories, myths, legends, narratives, or ceremonies from that of another.
Dennis McPherson. (1998).A Definition of Culture. In Jace Weaver Editor, Native American Religious Identity (pp.95-105). Maryknoll, N.Y.:Orbis Books.

Copying word for word without giving the author source
Like all cultures, Aboriginal cultures have their distinctive features, and, as a result, they are not all the same. The culture of one group varies to some degree in its stories, myths, legends, narratives, or ceremonies from that of another.

Using keywords/phrases and not crediting the author/source.
Many cultures have their distinctive features, and, as a result, they are not all the same. For example, culture of one group, such as Aboriginal cultures, varies to some degree in its stories, myths, legends, narratives, or ceremonies from that of another.

Paraphrasing/summarizing without giving the author/source.
Aboriginal peoples cannot be grouped entirely together in regards to their culture. Individual groups within one group will vary in its actions, stories, and ceremonies.

Using the author's idea without giving the author/source.
Aboriginal cultures have differences that prove that each is unique it its own way. Each individual group is characteristically different in its history and the way that history is interpreted from one generation to the next.

You need to cite pictures, data, charts, music, and other none print formats.
 
So, what don't I have to cite?
1. You do not have to cite your original work
2. You do not have to cite common knowledge
 
I am terrible at citing my sources, how can get help?
You may want to check with the Writing Center for help if you have difficulty in citing your sources. They also have some excellent links to style guides for you to use.
 
Plagiarism Case Studies
Case Study #1
You are a student involved in yet another group project that requires you to write your paper together. There are five members in your group, and it is decided that each member will research and write a portion of the fifteen page paper. It has fallen upon your shoulders to stitch the final paper together and to turn it in to your professor. As your fellow students give you the information, you realize that the majority of it has been poorly cited, or even worse, directly copied without citation. The paper is due tomorrow, and your professor is one of "those" who require items to be turned in on time.

1. Choose what actions can take place.
2. What might be the consequences of the action?
3. Are there potential conflicts of interest?
4. What would be your final recommendation?

Case Study #2
You are writing your final term paper for Heritage and you are having a hard time just getting started. You know 3 other friends in different Heritage classes that are writing on a similar topic. You read their papers to generate some ideas and even used some of the same citations to get your sources. Would this be considered collaboration?

1. Choose what actions can take place.
2. What might be the consequences of the action?
3. Are there potential conflicts of interest?
4. What would be your final recommendation?

 
My professor accused my of plagiarism, what are my rights?
Concerns related to final grades should be handled according to the procedures set forth in the Carthage College Policy on Grade Review. Students who are uncertain about the appropriate way to deal with a particular academic concern are encouraged to discuss the issue with their faculty advisor before taking action.
 

 
Need Help?
Need help with your research? Contact or drop into the library and talk to one of these two librarians assigned to Heritage I.


Kathy Myers
x5907
kmyers@carthage.edu


Chris Grugel
x5373
cgrugel@carthage.edu