PLAGIARISM:THE GAME

What do you know about plagiarism? How can you avoid it? Let’s find out!

(based on a presentation by Elinor Appel)

GAME RULES

I will ask you questions about plagiarism. The answers will be either TRUE or FALSE.

If you know the answer, raise your hand and answer the question by saying TRUE or FALSE.

If I call on you, and you answer correctly, you get a prize!

PRACTICE QUESTION: TRUE OR FALSE?

Plagiarism is copying someone else’s work without citing the source. [Do you know what “to cite” means?]

Image source: SJLibrary.org

TRUEPlagiarism is using somebody else's words, images, or ideas as your own. Plagiarism is a type of cheating. When you cite your source, you are giving credit to the person who did the work. This is necessary in American colleges.

Image source: “Plagiarism: The New Global Trade.” BBC.org

QUESTION 1Jack is working on an essay about global warming, but he doesn’t know how to express his thoughts in good English.

While searching the Internet for ideas, Jack finds an amazing essay with the perfect topic, and best of all, it’s free! So he cuts and pastes it into his Word document and puts his name on top.

Jack plagiarized: TRUE or FALSE?

TRUE

Jack is now a literary criminal. Cutting and pasting content from online resources without crediting them is plagiarism. If a teacher is suspicious of your perfect English, she can just Google and find the document, and then you will receive a zero!

QUESTION 2

Vicki doesn’t know what to do. Her compare/contrast essay is due in the morning, and it is already late at night. She is too tired to work.

Suddenly, she remembers an essay she wrote for her class last quarter on almost the same topic. She received an A on that assignment! Vicki happily makes a few small changes to her old essay and turns it in.

Vicki is a plagiarist! True or False?

TRUEVicki is now a plagiarist. You cannot turn in an old paper in place of a new one, even if you wrote it yourself. Surprise! Sorry Vicki. Goodbye.

QUESTION 3Drew is called into his instructor’s office. His instructor has discovered that Drew bought his paper from an online essay-writing service.

Drew is now in serious trouble!

TRUE or FALSE?

TRUE

Drew is in terribly serious trouble. Buying essays online means you did not do the work your teacher asked you to do.

Drew will receive a “0” on his paper.

Drew will also be reported to the International Programs office, and maybe even the Vice President of Student Services.

Dan may even be expelled from school.

QUESTION 4

Laura was writing a paper on Toni Morrison’s book Beloved. She looked in a library book and found a good quote to use in her paper.

Laura included the quote in her paper, and gave the author credit, citing the author’s name and book title in her paper.

Laura avoided plagiarism:

TRUE or FALSE?

TRUE

Laura has done exactly what she is supposed to do. Yay, Laura!

BONUS QUESTION

How can you avoid plagiarism? (There is more than one answer!)

T H AT ’ S T H E E N D O F O U R G A M E ! C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S – A N D R E M E M B E R

Don’t turn in an old paper as a new paper.

Don’t cut and paste work you found online and put it in your paper. Even one sentence is plagiarism!

Don’t buy papers online.

Ask your instructor, a Loft tutor, or a librarian if you are unsure about what plagiarism is.

THANK YOU!

Today you learned a lot about plagiarism!