Avoiding Plagiarism Presentation
Overview
Teaching: 31 min
Exercises: 31 minQuestions
How to cite other researchers’ work wisely?
Objectives
Avoid plagiarism in your writing.
Avoiding Plagiarism Presentation
Feel free to use the silence in between to think about and write your own answers to the posted questions.
Presentation Summary (If you have no time to watch the video)
Paraphrase
- Not just a matter of using synonyms
- You need to create a new sentence structure
- Present in a distinct way
- Preserve the essence of original text
- Add our own “Scholarly voice”
- It should sound like it has been written by someone else
Steps
- Ensure you understand the work you want to cite.
- What key ideas can you highlight?
- Use the key ideas to develop new vocabulary to use in your paraphrase.
- Just try it then evaluate your attempt. Use multiple techniques from the following rather than just a few.
- Add the citation.
PS: Ideally you would write the first draft without looking at the original!
Techniques
- Synonyms can help to create some differences, but don’t rely on this technique too heavily.
- Change the order of the information provided: focus on the key point and start there.
- Change sentence structure, change sentence length, active vs. passive sentences, change parts of speach, verb vs. noun
- Use difference punctuation (use semi-colons to join two ideas).
- Having style or sense of voice. Make sure the quote matches the style of the rest of your work.
- Use quotation marks for 4+ content words in a row.
- Use signal words like “reported by”.
Useful Resources
- University Library Provides
- Math Help
- Grad Skills
- Research Support
- Writing Help
- University Library Writing Help
- Grad Help Online Resources
- Ask Jill McMillan a specific question.
Key Points
References are required when using other people’s work.
Use your unique language but keep the same meaning from the original work.
Changes in sentence length/structure or information order are all good techniques to use.