What is Plagiarism?

• Plagiarism is when someone uses another person’s words, ideas, or work without giving them credit.
• It is like copying someone else’s homework or ideas and saying they are your own.

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Why is Plagiarism Wrong?

• It is unfair to the original creator who worked hard to produce their work.
• It can lead to serious consequences at school, including loss of points or disciplinary action.
• Plagiarism shows a lack of integrity and honesty in your work.

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How to Identify Plagiarism

• Look for Unusual Phrasing: If the writing style suddenly changes or seems too advanced for the student, it may be plagiarized.
• Check for Quotes Without Citations: If someone uses direct quotes but does not mention where they got them from, that is plagiarism.
• Compare Sources: If the information closely matches a book, website, or another student’s work, it could indicate plagiarism.

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How to Avoid Plagiarism

• Use Your Own Words: Always try to summarize information in your own words instead of copying directly.
• Give Credit: If you use someone else’s ideas or words, make sure to say where they came from. This is called citing sources.
• Example: If you found a fact in a book, you can say, According to [Author’s Name] in [Book Title], …
• Take Notes: When researching, write down information in your own words, and always note where you found it.

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How to Correct Plagiarism

• Rephrase or Summarize: If you find that you’ve copied something, rewrite it in your own words.
• Example: Instead of saying, The cat is a small, carnivorous mammal, you might say, Cats are small animals that eat meat.
• Add Citations: If you need to use someone else’s exact words, make sure to put them in quotation marks and add a citation.
• Example: “Cats are great companions” (Author’s Name).
• Ask for Help: If you’re unsure how to properly cite or rewrite something, ask a teacher or librarian for guidance.

let’s practice!

Read the following text from Prominent American Poets by Paige Wordsmith.

Langston Hughes, Claude McKay and Georgia Douglas Johnson were poets during the Harlem Renaissance, an artistic movement based in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York City. These poets’ poems explored the pain and beauty of African American life in the 1920s. Among the three, Hughes became the most famous. Hughes’s moving poetry makes him one of the most important writers in American history.

A student used information from the above text to write a report about Langston Hughes. Select the sentence in the student’s report that plagiarises the above text.

Langston Hughes was born in the US state of Missouri, but he lived most of his adult life in New York. Most of his poems were about Harlem and the people who lived there. Hughes’s moving poetry makes him one of the most important writers in American history. His work has influenced countless poets over the last hundred years.

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Read the following text from Neapolitan Nights by Caldera Fumarole.

The city of Naples is located below Mt Vesuvius, which is an active volcano known for its fiery eruptions. People who live near an active volcano should be more aware of the dangers around them. Mt Vesuvius has erupted many times, causing widespread damage. When it erupts again, the city of Naples could be in danger.

A student used information from the above text to write a report about volcanoes. Select the sentence in the student’s report that plagiarises the above text.

Volcanoes can be helpful because their lava helps create new land, like the Hawaiian Islands. However, volcanoes can be harmful as well. People who live near an active volcano should be more aware of the dangers around them. Volcanoes can shoot ash and lava high into the air, causing a lot of damage.

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Read the following text from Mathematical Puzzles by Belle Curve.

Sofya Kovalevskaya was a leader in maths and science at a time when few women worked in those fields. Kovalevskaya was famous for solving maths problems that had never before been solved. She was gifted in her creativity and problem-solving skills.

A student used information from the above text to write a report about famous women in maths. Select the sentence in the student’s report that plagiarises the above text.

For a long time, women were not allowed to study or teach maths at universities. Then, in 1889, Sofya Kovalevskaya became the first female maths professor. She was gifted in her creativity and problem-solving skills. Kovalevskaya helped show that women should be allowed to study and teach maths.

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Read the following text from Pervasive Plants by Jasmine Potter.

Plants are living organisms that need water, sunlight and nutrients from the soil to grow. Some plants grow quickly, taking over large areas of land. The kudzu plant can be a gardener’s worst nightmare. It is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, growing up to thirty centimetres each day.

A student used information from the above text to write a report about fast-growing plants. Select the sentence in the student’s report that plagiarises the above text.

Bamboo and kudzu can grow surprisingly fast. The kudzu plant can be a gardener’s worst nightmare. It can grow on top of pretty much anything. Interestingly, bamboo is the fastest-growing plant in the world, reaching the record of about ninety centimetres each day.

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Read the following text from The Human Heart by Van Trickle.

The heart’s job is to move blood throughout the human body. When blood travels to the lungs from the heart, cells in the blood pick up oxygen. After leaving the lungs, those cells deliver the oxygen to the rest of the body. The heart, though just a muscle, is an amazing organ.

A student used information from the above text to write a report about muscles in the human body. Select the sentence in the student’s report that plagiarises the above text.

There are over 650 muscles in the human body. Muscles help us move, breathe and eat. The heart, though just a muscle, is an amazing organ. It beats over 100,000 times each day and keeps the body alive.