Plagiarism

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What is plagiarism?

“To use another person’s ideas or expressions in your writing without acknowledging the source is to plagiarize. Plagiarism, then, constitutes intellectual theft” (Gibaldi 30)

When you do research and create an assignment, you must say where you found all of your ideas, images and words. This is the case whether your information is coming from the internet, a magazine, a book or anywhere else. Even if it is information that you “know” to be true, you have to find a source for it. The only exceptions would be information that is common knowledge, such as “the sky is blue” or “Sir John A. MacDonald was Canada’s first Prime Minister”.

How can I avoid plagiarism?

  1. Take handwritten point-form notes when you do your research
  2. Put any direct quotes between quotation marks
  3. Keep track of the sources of all information that you use. The research notes worksheets available in the library may help you to list all the details you will need
  4. Credit the source of every new idea, image or expression that you use in your assignment. Use parenthetical references
  5. List all of your sources in a Reference list (APA style) or Works Cited list (MLA style) at the end of your assignment
  6. Hand in all of your research notes, outlines and rough drafts with your finished assignment

What happens if I do plagiarize?

“Any student caught presenting the work of another person as his/her own, including internet material, will automatically receive a zero for the assignment and be reported to the Vice Principal. In addition...students…may also be suspended and/or disallowed from participation in field trips and/or sports events.” (NHS Student Handbook 25)

In community colleges and universities, penalties can range from a mark of zero to expulsion from the school. It’s a big deal.

Great resource!

There’s a great on-line tutorial on plagiarism at http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/plagiarism

Works Cited

NHS Student Handbook. Ottawa: Premier Agendas Inc., ca. 2007.
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