Plagiarism
The act of using or taking the thoughts or ideas and words of other people and passing them as one’s own without authorization or crediting of the original author is known as plagiarism. The two most unintentional forms of plagiarism that students commit include, first paraphrasing. It involves rewording a text in one’s own words with minor changes and passing it as one’s original work. Even though the words used to paraphrase are different from the original work, the ideas of the author remain. For example, a student can write the following plagiarized text; “Cheese-topped donuts are popular in Indonesia. In September 2013, KFC decided to offer a glazed donut topped with shredded Swiss and cheddar cheese.” The original text reads, “For some reason, cheese-topped donuts are quite popular in Indonesia, and on September 2013, KFC decided to get in on the action, offering a glazed donut topped with shredded Swiss and cheddar cheese” (Myers 1). Therefore, the student’s text is not a paraphrase because it does not rewrite the original text in their own words but only omits some words, and there is no citation. The correct way to paraphrase should be; “In 2013, a KFC in Indonesia began selling shredded Swiss, and cheddar cheese topped glazed donuts, a treat that is popular in this Asian country (Myers 1).”
Secondly is mosaic plagiarism, also known as patchwriting, and it involves copying and pasting together texts from different authors to create a new paragraph. It includes borrowing phrases from a source and falling to quote them, using synonyms and rewording texts, but maintaining the original text structure. An example of plagiarized work is; “Only two years later, all these friendly Sioux were….and constant urging by their friends and relations to join in warfare against the treacherous government that had kept faith with neither friend nor foe” (Bowdoin 1). The original text reads; “Contrast the condition into which all these friendly Indians are suddenly plunged now……. urging them to join in fighting this treacherous government that had kept faith with nobody neither with friend nor foe” (Jackson 1). Therefore, the writer has inserted a text from Jackson into their writing without acknowledging the source.
To avoid paraphrasing plagiarism, a student should cite the paraphrase correctly since those are not their original ideas. Similarly, students can prevent patchwriting by using quotation marks when they use someone else’s text in their writing.
Work Cited
Bowdoin. “Examples of Plagiarism | Bowdoin College.” Bowdoin.Edu, https://www.bowdoin.edu/dean-of-students/judicial-board/academic-honesty-and-plagiarism/examples.html.
Helen, H. J. A century of dishonor, a sketch of the United States Government’s dealings with some of the Indian tribes. New York: Harper, 1881, p. 178.
Myers, Dan. “Over the Top International Fast-Food Items.” Fox News, 2018, https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/over-the-top-international-fast-food-items.