Plagiarism
"Acknowledging the influence of others doesn't make you seemlest of a writer; on the contrary, it makes you seem more thorough, more wide ranging, and certainly more generous." John Breteton and Margaret Mansfield, Writing on the Job
How do I know if I am plagiarizing?
Plagiarizing is using someone else's words or ideas without acknowledging
them. So, if you use an idea, a phrase, a sentence or a paragraph of someone
else's without giving that individual credit, you are plagiarizing. In Writing
on the Job, John Brereton and Margaret Mansfield suggest that you "err on
the side of caution." They continue with some examples of plagiarism pitfalls:
If you've looked through books and articles for inspiration, say so. If
some people have given you good ideas, thank them. If you've borrowed the
structure of someone's argument, tell your readers. If you're taking your
facts from one or two key sources, make sure your readers know it. And above
all, when you use someone else's words, put them in quotation marks and
cite the writer as your source. (177)
Remember - information that you find on the Internet must also be credited
to its originator. You might refer to our links to language and writing
resources for specific guidelines for citing web sources.
What are the consequences of plagiarism?
At Miami, plagiarism is considered academic misconduct (see regulations
on page 10 of the Student Handbook). The consequences range from failing
the particular assignment to failing the class, suspension, and dismissal
from the university. See your professors for their specific policies on
plagiarism.
How do I avoid plagiarizing?
You can quote or paraphrase a source to avoid plagiarizing it. In quoting,
enclose all words you are quoting with quotation marks. Remember to introduce
your source prior to the quotation and include the proper citation. In most
cases, you will need to include a works cited page or bibliography that
lists the full citations of the material you quoted.
Quoting: Quoting is using the source's exact words.
"In publishing, plagiarism is illegal; in other circumstances it is, at
the least, unethical" (Brereton and Mansfield 520).
Paraphrasing: Paraphrasing information requires putting the source's
words into your own words while staying true to the tone and intent of the
author. According to the Handbook of Technical Writing, plagiarism is illegal
in the publishing field and unethical in all circumstances. You may wish
to acknowledge people or texts that have influenced your writing or thinking.
To do so, simply introduce the relevant information.
"This study takes its format from an engineering report submitted by Arlene Abbott and Frank Mansell in November 1996" (Brereton and Mansfield 178).
"My thinking about the role of financial instruments was guided by two experts in the field, Wes Baldwin, Vice President of Morton Trust, and Sarah Edwards, Director of the Trust Department, Xenia Bankcorp" (Brereton and Mansfield 178).
Works Consulted
Brereton, John C. and Margaret Mansfield. Writing on
the Job; A Norton Pocket Guide. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997.
Brusaw, Charles, Gerald Alred, and Walter Oliu. A Handbook
of Technical Writing. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1993.