Plagiarism

Plagiarism is any use of another writer's word, concepts, or sequence of ideas without acknowledging that writer by the use of proper documentation.

Put another way:
"Plagiarism is an academic crime, and the punishments for its commission range from automatic failure to the essay in which it occurs, through failure of the student in the course, to his expulsion from the University." (History Department, 1981)

If you quote another writer's words or paraphrase--even summarize--another writer's concepts or ideas without proper documentation, you commit the grievous crime of plagiarism!

Plagiarism is a violation of the Lawrence University Honor Code.

Direct Quotation

Generally, if you take a sequence of five or more words taken in sequence from another writer, you should indicate a direct quotation.

Enclose the words in quotation marks or set off from the text by indentation.
Fit the quoted material logically and grammatically into your own text.
Document with a citation.

Paraphrased or summarized material

A paraphrase is a restatement of another writer's point. It is usually about the same length as the original, but it is different in both structure and style. Unless the wording is your own, you may be accused of plagiarism even if you document the source.

Consider the following examples of paraphrasing from Rules for Writers, Second Edition.

Original: If the existence of a signing ape was unsettling for linguists, it was also startling news for animal behaviorists.
Unacceptable (note similar wording): An ape who knew sign language unsettled linguists and startled animal behaviorists (Davis 26).
Unacceptable (note similar structure): If the presence of a sign-language-using chimp was disturbing for scientists studying language, it was also surprising to scientists studying animal behavior (Davis 26).
Acceptable paraphrase: According to Flora Davis, linguists and animal behaviorists were unprepared for the news that a chimp could communicate with its trainers through sign language (26).

A summary is usually much shorter than the original; it is the gist of a passage or several paragraphs. It too must be worded and structured differently from the original and cited. You should enclose any key words or phrases from the original source in quotation marks.

Any summary or paraphrase of another writer's material must be documented.

Unintentional plagiarism is still plagiarism.

Often, students plagiarize without meaning to do so. They may assume that a reader will distinguish borrowed material from original; they may paraphrase or summarize inappropriately or neglect to document the source; they may not know how to cite. Ignorance and wrongful assumptions, however, are no excuse.

Internal Citation

In an informal essay, an internal citation to introduce direct quotes, paraphrased or summarized material may be sufficient documentation.

As William Faulkner suggested in his novel The Sound and the Fury, "...."

However, in a formal paper all quoted, paraphrased, or summarized material must be documented, even if you have used an internal citation in the text. If in doubt, ask your professor whether or not internal citation is sufficient documentation for a specific assignment.

Common knowledge

Material that can be considered common knowledge need not be documented. However, the definition of common knowledge varies among disciplines; it is, therefore, often difficult to determine what constitutes common knowledge. If in doubt, ask your professor for his/her definition of common knowledge. If still in doubt, document. Do not risk being accused plagiarism.

Avoiding inadvertent plagiarism

When you are taking notes from a source, distinguish clearly between material that is directly quoted and that which is paraphrased or summarized.
When writing your rough draft, indicate clearly any material from your sources that must be documented.

Correct form for documentation

There are several acceptable forms for documentation. Check the style handbook for your discipline or ask your professor for assistance.

Examples of citation, MLA format

Direct quotation: As one philosopher writes, "A quotation cannot be scintillating, profound, witty, or shrewd; or, if it is, these qualities attach to the circumstances of quotation and not to the passages quoted" (Danto 37).
Paraphrase: According to Danto, if one reads a quotation and finds it unusually stimulating or engaging, this results from the quotation's context rather than its content (Danto 37).
Summary: Arthur Danto holds that the circumstance of a quotation, rather than its content, lends it its interest (Danto 37).

Work Cited
Danto, Arthur C. The Transfiguration of the Commonplace.
Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1981.

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