Examples of Plagiarism and Tips for Avoiding It

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense that involves using someone else’s work or ideas without proper attribution. It undermines the principles of academic integrity, intellectual property rights, and the ethical standards of research and scholarship. While most students and researchers understand the general concept of plagiarism, it can sometimes be challenging to identify specific instances of it. 

Here is a rephrased version of the provided examples of plagiarism:

Plagiarism can take various forms, ranging from subtle instances to blatant copying. Some prevalent examples include:

• Incorporating a verbatim quote from a source without enclosing it in quotation marks, failing to distinguish it from the writer’s own words.
• Creating a “patchwork” document by combining and pasting elements from different sources without crediting the original authors.
• Paraphrasing a source too closely results in a restatement that resembles the original text without proper attribution.
• Omitting an in-text citation, neglecting to reference the source of the information or ideas used properly.
• Submitting an entire text, such as a paper or article, that is not the writer’s original work but instead copied from another source.

These examples highlight the importance of properly acknowledging and citing sources and ensuring that any borrowed material is clearly distinguished from the writer’s own original contributions.

Paraphrasing plagiarism

Paraphrasing involves restating someone else’s ideas or information in your own words. However, if this is done without proper attribution, it constitutes paraphrasing plagiarism.

Original text: “The concept of sustainable development emerged in the 1980s as a response to growing concerns about the negative impacts of human activities on the environment. It emphasizes the need to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Brundtland Report, 1987)

Example: Paraphrasing plagiarism

Sustainable development arose in the 1980s due to worries about the harmful effects of human actions on the environment. It stresses the importance of satisfying current needs while ensuring that future generations can meet them.

In this example, the original text has been paraphrased without citing the source, which is considered plagiarism.

Example: Correct paraphrasing

According to the Brundtland Report (1987), the concept of sustainable development emerged in the 1980s as a response to growing concerns about the negative impacts of human activities on the environment. It emphasizes the need to meet the present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

By citing the source and using appropriate attribution, this paraphrased version is no longer considered plagiarism.

Verbatim plagiarism

Verbatim plagiarism involves copying someone else’s work word-for-word without proper attribution or quotation marks.

Original text: “Climate change is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world today. It is caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.” (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2021)

Example: Verbatim plagiarism

Climate change is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the world today. It is caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

In this example, the original text has been copied verbatim without attribution or quotation marks, which constitutes plagiarism.

Example: Quoted correctly with a citation

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2021), “Climate change is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world today. It is caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.”

By using quotation marks and providing a citation, this quote is properly attributed and no longer considered plagiarism.

Patchwork plagiarism: Combining multiple sources

Patchwork plagiarism involves copying and combining text from multiple sources without proper attribution, creating a “patchwork” of plagiarized material.

Original texts

Source 1: “Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving field that involves the development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation.” (Goodfellow et al., 2016)

Source 2: “AI has the potential to revolutionize various industries, from healthcare and finance to transportation and manufacturing, by automating processes, improving decision-making, and enhancing efficiency.” (Russell & Norvig, 2020)

Example: Patchwork plagiarism

Artificial intelligence is a rapidly evolving field that involves the development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. AI has the potential to revolutionize various industries, from healthcare and finance to transportation and manufacturing, by automating processes, improving decision-making, and enhancing efficiency.

In this example, text from two sources has been combined without proper attribution, constituting patchwork plagiarism.

Example: Correctly citing multiple sources

According to Goodfellow et al. (2016), “Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving field that involves the development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation.” Furthermore, Russell and Norvig (2020) state that “AI has the potential to revolutionize various industries, from healthcare and finance to transportation and manufacturing, by automating processes, improving decision-making, and enhancing efficiency.”

This example avoids patchwork plagiarism by providing citations for each source and adequately attributing the quoted material.

Common knowledge: When do I need a citation?

Common knowledge refers to widely known, generally accepted, and easily verifiable information by a broad audience. The shared knowledge is considered common sense or widely disseminated within a particular field or society. This type of information typically does not require attribution or citation.

Example: Common knowledge

The Earth revolves around the Sun.

Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).

These statements are considered common knowledge and do not require citations.

Example: Not common knowledge—citation needed

“Climate change is causing a rise in global sea levels, threatening coastal communities and ecosystems.” (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2021)

While the general concept of climate change may be considered common knowledge, specific details and findings, such as the impact on sea levels, require the proper citation.

Example: Correctly cited information

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2021), “Climate change is causing a rise in global sea levels, threatening coastal communities and ecosystems.”

By citing the source, this statement avoids plagiarism and provides proper attribution for the specific information.

Real-life examples of plagiarism

While the examples above are hypothetical, plagiarism can have severe consequences in real-life situations. Here are some notable cases of plagiarism:

1. Jayson Blair (The New York Times): In 2003, journalist Jayson Blair was caught plagiarizing and fabricating numerous articles for The New York Times. He resigned amid the scandal, which prompted major changes in the newspaper’s editorial practices and fact-checking procedures.

2. Kaavya Viswanathan (Novel “How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life”): In 2006, Harvard student Kaavya Viswanathan’s debut novel was recalled by the publisher after it was discovered that several passages were plagiarized from other authors’ works, including those of Megan McCafferty and Sophie Kinsella.

3. Doris Kearns Goodwin (Historian and Author): In 2002, renowned historian Doris Kearns Goodwin admitted to plagiarizing portions of her book “The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys” from several other sources. She apologized and agreed to hire fact-checkers for her future work.

4. Melania Trump (First Lady of the United States): During the 2016 Republican National Convention, portions of Melania Trump’s speech were found to be nearly identical to a speech given by Michelle Obama in 2008. The plagiarism allegations sparked widespread criticism and controversy.

These examples highlight the importance of academic integrity and the severe consequences plagiarism can have, even for prominent individuals and organizations.

Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism

To maintain academic integrity and avoid the pitfalls of plagiarism, consider the following tips:

• Understand what constitutes plagiarism: Familiarize yourself with the different types of plagiarism, such as verbatim plagiarism, paraphrasing plagiarism, and patchwork plagiarism.
• Cite your sources properly: Always provide proper citations and attributions for any information, ideas, or direct quotes that are not your own original work. Follow the appropriate citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) consistently.
• Use quotation marks for verbatim quotes: When using someone else’s exact words, enclose them in quotation marks and provide a citation.
• Paraphrase carefully: When paraphrasing, express the ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Provide a citation to the original source.
• Keep track of your sources: Maintain a reference list or bibliography as you research and write, making it easier to properly cite your sources.
• Seek clarification: If you are unsure about whether something requires a citation or how to correctly attribute a source, consult your instructor, academic advisor, or style guide for guidance.
• Use plagiarism detection tools: Take advantage of plagiarism detection software or online tools to check your work for potential unintentional plagiarism.
• Foster a culture of academic integrity: Promote an environment that values original thinking, ethical conduct, and respect for intellectual property rights.