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Examples of Plagiarism

Many students are unsure of what constitutes plagiarism. When should you cite a source? Is a citation necessary if you paraphrase? What's the difference between plagiarism and building on someone else's ideas? The examples below should help you identify plagiarism and determine whether you work meets the standards of academic integrity.

Adapted from the Princeton University website: http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pub/integrity/pages/plagiarism.html

A student is writing a paper and wants to use Martha Nussbaum's Cultivating Humanity: A Classical Defense of Reform in Liberal Education as a source. Here is the original text from that work:

Original Source

Here are three examples of how the student might incorporate Nussbaum's ideas into his or her paper, all of which constitute plagiarism. Words taken directly from the source text are in red.

Example 1

Several characteristics define the modern sense of humanity. Primary among them is Socrates' ideal of the examined life. This means a life that accepts no belief as authoritative simply because it has been handed down by tradition or become familiar through habit. This idea of life questions all beliefs and accepts only those that survive reason's demand for consistency and for justification. Training this capacity requires developing the capacity to reason logically, to test what one reads or says for consistency of reasoning, correctness of fact, and accuracy of judgment. Socratic teaching is necessary to fulfill the promise of democratic citizenship.

This example should be quite obvious as plagiarism. The text in the example is taken verbatim from the book. In this case, the information was either copied word for word from a hard copy or cut and pasted from an electronic source. Slight alterations made to the introductory sentence and insignificant word changes through the text are insufficient to avoid a charge of plagiarism.

Sometimes, we encounter an author whose explanation of a given situation resonates very strongly with our own understanding. In academic work, citing the theories and opinions of others provides valuable background for evaluating our own ideas. When writing, you must use quotations marks in every instance where another author's words are used. In this example, virtually the entire paragraph should be in quotation marks. The end quotation should be followed by parentheses that include the author's name and the original year of publication. The bibliography should include a listing for the author and the book used. Citation can be done using a number of formats; always ask your instructor which format s/he prefers. See Research and Citation for more information on systems of citation. Use of quotation marks around this entire paragraph would help this student avoid a charge of plagiarism. However, if your entire paper merely includes quotations from various other authors, it is very unlikely you would do well on the assignment. Your instructor is looking for your original opinions and ideas.

Example 2

The development of several traits is critical to the cultivation of humanity. Critical examination is one of the most important capacities necessary to fulfill Socrates' ideal of the examined life. In this, individuals reject any viewpoint that has merely been handed down by tradition. This leads to a questioning of all beliefs and values; acknowledging only those that are justified and demand consistency. In order to develop this ability mandates the ability to reason logically, testing for consistency of reasoning, and accuracy of facts and judgment. By developing these abilities, we realize the potential of democratic citizenship.

Despite any initial differences you might perceive, this example still constitutes plagiarism. Although the sentence structure is altered and some of the text may seem to be paraphrased, all the key concepts and ideas are lifted directly from the previous source. The author of the example makes no effort to provide his or her own ideas on the topic. The author of this example retained all the central ideas and themes of the original author while only making superficial changes. The example and the original vary only on the surface; the content remains identical and plagiarized.
Once again, when using another author's words, you should use quotation marks. In this case, even though the format of the example is altered from the original, each time specific language or ideas are copied verbatim, quotations must be used.

Example 3

More than any other aptitude, the ability to think critically about our beliefs stands out as a defining characteristic of modern society. Thinking critically entails examining every ideal and value based on one's individual reasoning, not on the reasoning of some "other" respected figure. Nor can individuals allow themselves the luxury of habit: adopting behaviors or ideals through routine rather than critical reflection. In order to fully participate in, and engage with, society, the individual must learn to seek out factual information and render personal judgments based on a sound understanding of the situation.

It is probably the most difficult to distinguish plagiarism from paraphrasing in this example. Here, the author of the example clearly wrote their piece in their own words. The two articles read very differently and do not look very much alike. However, even in this case there is cause for concern. While the student clearly wrote this in his or her own words, the central theme of the example exactly mirrors that of the original author. While certainly less blatant than the previous examples, this too can be considered plagiarism.

Here the example is completely re-written using virtually none of the original author's own words. However, because the ideas and central theme are taken from the original, the original author must be given credit. Quotation marks are not necessary, as the author's words are not directly copied. Here, it may only be necessary to reference the author in the introduction to the paragraph. Referencing the example, the student could have written: "Nussbaum (1997) believes that, more than any other aptitude…etc." Once again, the bibliography should include a listing for the entire book.