1. COSC 111 : Plagiarism and
Proper Citation
Laksamee Putnam – Research & Instruction
Librarian

2. First…
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 Cook Library Reference:
◦ 410.704.2462.
◦ IM/email
 Phone: 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Albert S. Cook facebook profile

3. On the side…

4. Agenda
 Define plagiarism
 Real world examples and discussion
 Towson Policy – Academic Integrity
 MLA citation style

5. How do you define
plagiarism?
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/09/12/copy-cat/

6. How do you define
plagiarism?

7. How do you define
plagiarism?
◦ Using someone‘s ideas or expression of
those ideas (words, pictures, music, etc)
◦ Without giving proper credit

8. An interesting side story
 A quote attributed to Martin Luther
King Jr. went viral after the death of
Osama bin Laden
 But part of it was never said or written
by him
 http://www.theatlantic.com/national/arc
hive/2011/05/anatomy-of-a-fake-
quotation/238257/
 What‘s the big deal?

9. It‘s out there, why not reuse
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32657885
it?
Gabriel, Trip. “Plagiarism Lines Blur for Students in the
Image by Duane Hoffmann
Digital Age.” nytimes.com. The New York Times, 1
Aug 2010. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/education
/02cheat.html>
―If you are not so worried about presenting yourself as absolutely
unique, then it‘s O.K.
…if you say other people‘s words, it‘s O.K. if you say things you don‘t
believe,
…it‘s O.K. if you write papers you couldn‘t care less about because they
accomplish the task, which is turning something in and getting a grade
… and it‘s O.K. if you put words out there without getting any credit.‖
~Susan D. Blum anthropologist at The University of Notre
Dame, author of ―My Word!: Plagiarism and College Culture‖ on student
attitudes toward plagiarism

10. It‘s out there, why not reuse
it?
 Discussion on the article:
• Your thoughts on plagiarism
• Why don‘t some people seem to think it‘s bad
to copy?
• Why do people who know it‘s wrong still do it?
• Does downloading music count?
• Is their plagiarism in business?

11. Why does it matter?
Newitz, Annalee. (2012, January 16) ―You are
bitching about the wrong things when you read
an article about science.‖ i09.com. i09 blog, 16
Jan 2012. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.
<http://io9.com/5873948/you-are-bitching-
about-the-wrong-things-when-you-read-an-
article-about-science>
―Science is designed to challenge our common sense assumptions
about the world because they are often wrong.
Sometimes, however, common sense turns out to be right. Which is
why occasionally science seems to prove the obvious. But that's not
science being useless - it's science doing what it does best, which is
applying rigor and rationality to anecdote and dogma.‖

12. Why does it matter?
 Discussion on the article
• Why is it important to attribute information to a
source?
• Why is anecdotal information still so compelling?
• What does this have to do with you? In real life?
In school?

13. Why does it matter?
 It was a dark and  Skin cancer is the
stormy night most common form
of cancer

14. Common Knowledge
Quandary
 ―I‘ve heard that common knowledge
doesn‘t have to be cited. What is
common knowledge?‖
 Some examples:
◦ Waste not, want not.
◦ George Washington was the first president of
the US
◦ College students like pizza…
 When in doubt, cite it.

15. The point is…
 No matter where you are, you will
constantly need to assess the
information around you
 In order to be an informed consumer you
should know how to evaluate the
information you acquire
 In order to support your own arguments
you should know how to research your
question and cite your sources

16. A more serious example
 The German Defense Minister
resigned and his PhD was taken away
because it was found that his thesis
was plagiarized
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-
europe-12608083

17. What is the policy at Towson?
 Policy for Academic Integrity:
◦ http://www.towson.edu/studentaffairs/polic
ies/academicintegrity.asp
 Two Strike System
 100 reported cases a year
 One suspension a year

18. Why is it important to cite your
sources?
 Poll
◦ http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_
polls/OTQ2NTA4NTAw

19. Why is it important to Cite your
Sources?
 Allows your readers to verify and identify
your information
◦ Support your argument
 Gives credit to the owners of the ideas
◦ Not plagiarizing
 Get credit for your ideas!
 Required for your assignment!

20. What needs to be cited?
 Poll
◦ http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_
polls/LTE0ODA0NTgyNTg

21. What needs to be cited?
 Books Examples:
images from
 Web Pages Web, statistical
tables
 Magazine articles
 Graphics
 VHS,DVD, audio, etc.
 Government reports
 Statistics
 Encyclopedia articles
 Any source of information!

22. Example A
 Original  Student
 Don't look for one of these  Google's approach may win
tech heavyweights to knock out over the long term. In the
out the other. Yet if history early 1980s Apple lost its lead
is any guide, Google's in the PC market as Microsoft
approach may win out over enlisted the aid of hordes of
the long term. Recall that in software developers and
the early 1980s Apple lost dozens of PC manufacturers.
its lead in the PC market
when Microsoft enlisted the
aid of hordes of software
developers and dozens of
PC manufacturers. Now, if
Google can marshal such a
united front, Apple could
again be swamped by the
collective innovations.

23. Example A
 Original  Student
 Don't look for one of these  Google's approach may win
tech heavyweights to knock out over the long term. In the
out the other. Yet if history early 1980s Apple lost its lead
is any guide, Google's in the PC market as Microsoft
approach may win out over enlisted the aid of hordes of
the long term. Recall that in software developers and
the early 1980s Apple lost dozens of PC manufacturers.
its lead in the PC market
when Microsoft enlisted the
aid of hordes of software
developers and dozens of
PC manufacturers. Now, if
Google can marshal such a
united front, Apple could
again be swamped by the
collective innovations.

24. Example B
 Original  Student
 Don't look for one of these  History tells us that
tech heavyweights to knock Google's approach may be
out the other. Yet if history successful over the long
is any guide, Google's term. In the early 1980s
approach may win out over Apple lagged in the PC
the long term. Recall that in market as Microsoft
the early 1980s Apple lost collaborated with software
its lead in the PC market developers and dozens of
when Microsoft enlisted the PC manufacturers. Now, if
aid of hordes of software Google would only
developers and dozens of summon a united front,
PC manufacturers. Now, if Apple could again be
Google can marshal such a swamped by the collective
united front, Apple could innovations (Burrows).
again be swamped by the
collective innovations.

25. Example B
 Original  Student
 Don't look for one of these  History tells us that
tech heavyweights to knock Google's approach may be
out the other. Yet if history successful over the long
is any guide, Google's term. In the early 1980s
approach may win out over Apple lagged in the PC
the long term. Recall that in market as Microsoft
the early 1980s Apple lost collaborated with software
its lead in the PC market developers and dozens of
when Microsoft enlisted the PC manufacturers. Now, if
aid of hordes of software Google would only
developers and dozens of summon a united
PC manufacturers. Now, if front, Apple could again be
Google can marshal such a swamped by the collective
united front, Apple could innovations (Burrows).
again be swamped by the
collective innovations.

26. Example C
 Original  Student
 Don't look for one of these  Google stands a chance of
tech heavyweights to knock beating Apple if it can
out the other. Yet if history benefit from the pooled
is any guide, Google's ideas of software
approach may win out over developers and device
the long term. Recall that in manufacturers, following
the early 1980s Apple lost the strategy that Microsoft
its lead in the PC market employed to Apple‘s
when Microsoft enlisted the detriment in the early ‗80s.
aid of hordes of software
developers and dozens of
PC manufacturers. Now, if
Google can marshal such a
united front, Apple could
again be swamped by the
collective innovations.

27. Example C
 Original  Student
 Don't look for one of these  Google stands a chance of
tech heavyweights to knock beating Apple if it can
out the other. Yet if history benefit from the pooled
is any guide, Google's ideas of software
approach may win out over developers and device
the long term. Recall that in manufacturers, following
the early 1980s Apple lost the strategy that Microsoft
its lead in the PC market employed to Apple‘s
when Microsoft enlisted the detriment in the early ‗80s.
aid of hordes of software
developers and dozens of
PC manufacturers. Now, if
Google can marshal such a
united front, Apple could
again be swamped by the
collective innovations.

28. Example D
 Original  Student
 Don't look for one of these  It is possible that in the
tech heavyweights to knock battle of the ―tech
out the other. Yet if history heavyweights‖ Google
is any guide, Google's might eventually prevail
approach may win out over over Apple if it follows the
the long term. Recall that in strategy that Microsoft
the early 1980s Apple lost employed to Apple‘s
its lead in the PC market detriment during the early
when Microsoft enlisted the ‗80s: collaborating, and
aid of hordes of software innovating, with software
developers and dozens of developers and
PC manufacturers. Now, if manufacturers (Burrows
Google can marshal such a 25).
united front, Apple could
again be swamped by the
collective innovations.

29. Example D
 Original  Student
 Don't look for one of these  It is possible that in the
tech heavyweights to knock battle of the ―tech
out the other. Yet if history heavyweights‖ Google
is any guide, Google's might eventually prevail
approach may win out over over Apple if it follows the
the long term. Recall that in strategy that Microsoft
the early 1980s Apple lost employed to Apple‘s
its lead in the PC market detriment during the early
when Microsoft enlisted the ‗80s: collaborating, and
aid of hordes of software innovating, with software
developers and dozens of developers and
PC manufacturers. Now, if manufacturers (Burrows
Google can marshal such a 25).
united front, Apple could
again be swamped by the
collective innovations.

30. Tips to avoid plagiarism
 Documentation
- keep track of
materials used for your
working bibliography
 Quote carefully – color
code or use quotes
when taking notes.
Beware cutting &
pasting.
 Note key ideas then
―Shut the book‖
 Try to boil down the
info—summarize
 Proofread!

31. Style Manuals
 Different disciplines use
different style manuals
◦ Social Sciences = American
Psychological Association
(APA)
◦ Humanities = MLA Handbook
for Writers of Research
Papers (MLA)

32. Library Resources for MLA

33. Citing correctly in MLA – Exact
Quote
Every in-text
 1. ―x‖ citation
should have
a match in
 2. In-text citation
the
(Smith 35) or (Smith) bibliography
 3. An entry in the Works Cited list (the
bibliography) at the end of the paper

34. Citing correctly in MLA -
Paraphrase
 1. Legitimate paraphrase
Again, every in-text
 2. In-text citation citation should have
a match in the
(Smith 35) or (Smith) bibliography!
 3. An entry in the Works Cited list at
the end of the paper

35. In-text Citation for an Article (HTML)
from a Database (Business Source Complete)
 In-text:
◦ Mobile devices increase access to sensitive
corporate data (Swartz 25).
 In-text with signal phrase:
◦ Swartz points out that mobile devices increase
access to sensitive corporate data (25).

36. Works Cited Entry for an Article (HTML)
from a Database (Business Source Premier)
Swartz, Nikki. ―Safeguarding Corporate
Secrets.‖ Information Management
Journal 40.5 (2006): 24-30. Business
Source Complete. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

37. Some ―for fun‖ citations
 Here is an interesting fact (Wolfensohn 25)
 You may be surprised to learn this
startling statistic (Association of Associations)
 Here is the way that researcher
Beverly Santana frames the issue
(Santana 110-114)

38. Works Cited
Association of Associations. Surprising Statistics: A
Study. AA, 2009. Web. 9 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.theassociation.org/stats.>
Santana, Beverly. “Why Is Research So
Challenging?” Journal of Puzzling Questions
22.4(2011): 110-145. Academic Search Premier.
Web. 14 Feb. 2012.
Wolfensohn, Hans David. You Will Enjoy This Book:
Read It Now. Towson, MD: Towson Press, 2011.
Print.

39. Sample Paper in MLA style
 Would you like to see how a sample
paper in MLA Style
looks, headings, in-text
citations, Works Cited list and all?
◦ http://bit.ly/A6LUEk
 If you need more than the resource
guides on the library website
◦ Diane Hacker
◦ OWL

40. Questions?
 Feel free to contact me:
◦ Laksamee Putnam
◦ lputnam@towson.edu
◦ 410.704.3746.
◦ Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Or any reference librarian:
◦ Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
◦ 410.704.2462.
◦ IM – tucookchat