Avoiding plagiarism and citing sources correctly using APA format.

1. Using Information Ethically
How to Recognize and Prevent
Plagiarism
Seth Allen, M.L.I.S.

2. What is Plagiarism?
According to the Davidson Community College Catalog,
plagiarism is:
“Plagiarizing includes any attempt to pass another‟s work
off as one‟s own, in part or in whole, without properly
acknowledging the source. This includes directly quoting,
summarizing, or using ideas, images, or data from
another‟s work without properly citing the source as well as
submitting purchased or borrowed papers as one‟s own”
(Academics, p.2).
In Layman’s Terms:
Plagiarism is form a cheating whereby a student passes of the
work of others as their own by failing to give credit to
others.
Davidson Community College Catalog: Academics. (2012). Retrieved Dec. 5,
2012 from: http://www.davidsonccc.edu/catalog.htm

3. Why Should I Care?
• Uphold personal, academic, and institutional
integrity
• Poorly cited work leads to poor arguments in
papers and speeches
• Instructors need a „breadcrumb‟ trail to verify
the sources you use in your papers
• Plagiarism could lead to disciplinary actions
by Davidson County Community College
(next slide)

4. How Davidson County Community College
Handles Academic Dishonesty
 Verbal warning
 Written warning
 Failing grade for the assignment involved
 Failing grade for the course
 Removal from the course

5. So What‟s the Difference?
Plagiarism Is: Plagiarism Is Not:
• Passing off someone else‟s intellectual • Restating common
property* as your own (intentionally or knowledge,** such as:
unintentionally) • Popular proverbs or
sayings
• Failing to mention peers with whom
• Well-known dates and
you collaborated
historical events
• Failing to cite the sources of ideas or • Information in given field
information, whether a direct quote, of study that is widely
summary, or a paraphrase disseminated outside of
• Failing to place three or more words the field
from the original source in quotation • Stating your own research
marks findings, ideas, and
thoughts

6. Paraphrasing
Definition: a restatement of a text or passage giving the
meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording
Example taken from page 22 of unChristian by David
Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons:
“For both Mosaics and Busters, relationships are the driving
force. Being loyal to friends is one of their highest
values….Still under their relational connectedness lies fierce
individualism.”
In my paper I write: Mosaics and Busters are relationship-
centered and yet highly individualistic (Kinnamn & Lyons,
2007, p.22).
Kinnaman, D., & Lyons, G. (2007). Unchristian: What a new generation
really thinks aboutChristianity-- and why it matters. Grand Rapids,
Mich: Baker Books.

7. Direct Quotes
When directly quoting three or more consecutive words or
a phrase from a text, enclose these words in quotation
marks.
From the text:
“For both Mosaics and Busters, relationships are the driving force.
Being loyal to friends is one of their highest values….Still under
their relational connectedness lies fierce individualism.”
In my paper I write:
Mosaics and Busters value loyalty. “Being loyal to friends is one of
their highest values….Still under their relational connectedness lies
fierce individualism” (Kinnamn & Lyons, 2007, p.22).
Kinnaman, D., & Lyons, G. (2007). Unchristian: What a new generation really
thinks about Christianity-- and why it matters. Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker
Books.

8. Assessing Your Knowledge of
Plagiarism
The next couple of slides will assess your knowledge of
plagiarism through a series of examples. Click on the
ENTER tab to view the answer and explanation.
Excerpt from my paper: The Declaration of
Independence was signed in 1776.
Does this require a citation?
No, this is common knowledge.

9. Example #1-Common Knowledge
In my paper I write:
With nearly 2.2 billion adherents worldwide,
Christianity is the world’s largest faith.
Should I include a citation?

10. Example #1-Common Knowledge
Yes. While the fact that Christianity is the largest
religion is common knowledge, the no. of
adherents is not.
With nearly 2.2 billion adherents worldwide,
Christianity is the world‟s largest faith
(Benokraitis, 2012, p. 263).
OR
Benokraitis (2012) states that Christianity the
largest religion with over 2 billion adherents
(p.263).
Benokraitis, N. V. (2012). SOC. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth,
Cengage Learning.

11. Example #2-Citing 3 or More Consecutive
Words in Parentheses
Original Text From Building Suburbia: Green
Fields and Urban Growth, 1820-2000 :
The diversity of suburbia is evidence of assimilation
and a source of conflict.
My paper reads:
Suburbia is not as homogenous as some have
assumed. Instead, suburbs feature evidence of
assimilation and a source of conflict (Hayden, 2003,
p.13).
Is this plagiarism?

12. Example #2-Citing 3 or More Consecutive
Words in Parentheses
YES.
Even though I properly cited the source, I
used three consecutive words from the
text without putting them in quotation
marks. I should use quotation marks
around the phrase “evidence of
assimilation and a source of conflict.”

13. Example #3-Paraphrasing Other‟s
Ideas
Original Text From a Book:
"Though students do not have books, they most
emphatically do have music. Nothing is more singular
about this generation than its addiction to music. This is
the age of music and the states of soul that accompany
it."
I paraphrase this statement in my paper by writing:
Bloom (1987) states emphatically that music is the most
significant characteristic of this generation of students,
and in fact, that they are addicted to music (p.68). This is
quite insightful, but is not limited to students.
Did I paraphrase correctly?

14. Example #3-Paraphrasing Other‟s
Ideas
Yes.
I did not plagiarize because I did not
use more than three consecutive
words from the original text AND I
cited the source of the idea.

15. Example #4-Paraphrasing ALL Ideas
That Are Not Your Own
Original Text From a Book:
"Though students do not have books, they most
emphatically do have music. Nothing is more singular
about this generation than its addiction to music. This is
the age of music and the states of soul that accompany
it".
I paraphrase this statement in my paper by writing:
Bloom (1987) states emphatically that music is the most
significant characteristic of this generation of students
(p.68) and in fact, that they are addicted to music. This is
quite insightful, but is not limited to students.
Did I paraphrase correctly?

16. Example #4-Paraphrasing ALL Ideas
That Are Not Your Own
NO.
I put the source citation before the statement “they
are addicted music”. Therefore, I am implying
that this is my own conclusion, when in fact, it is
the author‟s.
Put in in-text citation after you have encapsulated
all of the authors‟ ideas.

17. Example #5-Information and
Images on the Web
I found this beautiful picture on Wikipedia that I would like
to incorporate in a presentation on Israel. There is
caption on the photo stating it is in the public domain.
Should I cite the source of this photograph?

18. Example #5-Information and
Images on the Web
Yes.
While many photographs are
available on Wikipedia that the
author has released to the public
domain (and thus do not require
the creator‟s permission to re-
use), one must still cite the
source as a caption and in the
bibliography.
(Werner, 2011)
Werner, B. Jerusalem, Dome of the Rock, in the background the Church of the Holy
Sepulcher [Online image]. Retrieved Sep. 22, 2011 from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jerusalem_Dome_of_the_rock_BW_1
4.J PG

19. Example #6: Citing Sacred Texts
In my paper, I write:
Many would argue that hard work is a biblical
virtue tantamount to following the 10
commandments. Paul urges believers in
Colossus to work “willing, as unto the Lord.”
Should I cite this?

20. Example #6: Citing Sacred Texts
Yes. Cite the source in-text, but omit it from
your
bibliography.
Many would argue that hard work is a biblical
virtue tantamount to following the 10
commandments. Paul urges the believers in
Colossus to work “willing, as unto the Lord”
(Col. 3:23 New International Version).

21. Example #7: Personal Communication
I am writing a paper on the challenges of
teaching „digital natives‟ in the college
classroom. I email a professor of Freshman
Seminar to ask about her insights. She
responds in her email that the greatest
challenge to teaching digital natives is the
constant distraction of social media.
In my paper I write:
“In an email with Prof. Warwick, she said that
digital natives are distracted in the
classroom from using social media.”
Do I need to cite this like I would cite a
published source?

22. Example #7: Personal Communication
Yes. All sources, published or not, should
be cited in your paper but not in the
bibliography.
In an email with Prof. Denise Warwick,
she said that digital natives are
distracted in the classroom from using
social media (personal communication,
Nov. 20, 2012).

23. Summarizing What You Learned
 Any ideas that are not your own must be properly
cited, even if the item is not published, has an
expired or no copyright, or is listed as „public
domain‟
 Using three or more consecutive words from the
original text must be enclosed in quotation marks
 Paraphrasing and summarizing someone else‟s
work requires a citation
 Common knowledge and your own research and
thoughts do not require a citation

24. Where Do I Go From Here?
 Consult the some trusted online writing centers:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
http://lib.trinity.edu/research/citing/APAelectronicsources.pdf
 Use the „References‟ tab in Microsoft Word to capture data
about your books as you use them
 Try some FREE online citation generators, such as:
www.easybib.com & www.eazypaper.com
 When in doubt about the ethical use of a source, ask your
professor or librarian
 Adopt conscientious study and research habits
 Consult Davidson County Community College‟s Catalog:
http://www.davidsonccc.edu/pdfs/catalog/Academics.pdf