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The
Plague of Plagiarism
What is this disease? Is it contagious?
Read the hints on this page to find out how to avoid contacting this
dangerous "disease". Read information on plagiarism
from InfoPlease.
Plagiarism
or to plagiarize means:
1. Spreading the plague
2. Playing with your eyes to find out what they do
3. Bothering someone constantly
4. Using someone else's word or ideas without giving them credit
Copying may be the highest form of flattery but when you copy someone
else's written words or ideas and pretend they are your own you are
breaking the law.
So, how do you write a paper for
school without copying?
Here's
how:
1. Decide what your topic is.
Example:
Research and write a paper on "Toenails."
2. Think of other words or search terms that might lead you to
information on toenails.
Example:
Feet, manicure, toes, shoes, walking.
3. Find information on toenails in several places using all the
search terms. Look in encyclopedias, books in the proper section of
the library, in related books, and on the Internet.
4. Every time you find an interesting piece of information write in
down. But not just anywhere.
5. First write a bibliography
(works cited) for the source, the book or Web
site, at the top of a piece of notebook paper. Include the
Author, Title, Publisher, City, Date, & URL address.
Example: Schmoe, Joe, How
to Grow a Healthy Toe.
Big Books Co., San Diego, 1900.
6. Then write all the notes from that source on that piece of
paper.
7. If the fact is known by everyone you do not have to write down
a page number or even say where you read it.
Example:
Most people have five toes on each foot.
8. If you copy words exactly from a written work you must put
quotation marks around them and also include the place you took them
from and the page.
Example:
"Alex the Great survived a famine by eating all his toenails (Schmoe,
37)."
Example:
"Alex was forever sorry afterwards, for his feet looked very odd in
flip flops (Schmoe, 48)."
9. When you have gathered all your information, organize all the
bits and pieces and tie them all together with your own words.
10. Remember, include in your bibliography every resource from which you took
information. Put quotation marks around any words you copy
exactly and list the author and page number right after it. Then
you will never be accused of plagiarism.
You will avoid cheating. You will be an honest and upright
research paper writer!
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