How to Recognize Plagarism and Unacceptable Forms of Paraphrasing
How to Recognize Unacceptable and Acceptable Paraphrases
Here’s the ORIGINAL text, from page 1 of Lizzie Borden: A Case Book of Family and Crime
in the 1890s by Joyce Williams et al.:
The rise of industry, the growth of cities, and the expansion of the population were the three
great developments of late nineteenth century American history. As new, larger,
steam-powered factories became a feature of the American landscape in the East, they
transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and provided jobs for a rising tide of
immigrants. With industry came urbanization the growth of large cities (like Fall River,
Massachusetts, where the Bordens lived) which became the centers of production as well as of
commerce and trade.
Here’s an UNACCEPTABLE paraphrase that is plagiarism:
The increase of industry, the growth of cities, and the explosion of the population were three
large factors of nineteenth century America. As steam-driven companies became more visible in
the eastern part of the country, they changed farm hands into factory workers and provided
jobs for the large wave of immigrants. With industry came the growth of largecities like Fall
The Report on Effects of Growth of Industry in Modern America
The growth of industry and businesses in the United States of America occurred by the monopolization of the American market. Over time some firms grew large enough to control as much as 25% of their industry like United Steel. Such big companies would lead to greater jobs plus greater economies of scale, being able to produce at lower costs and so theoretically could sell their products at a lower ...
River where the Bordens lived which turned into centers of commerce and trade as well as
production.
What makes this passage plagiarism?
The preceding passage is considered plagiarism for two reasons:
* the writer has only changed around a few words and phrases, or changed the order of the
original’s sentences.
* the writer has failed to cite a source for any of the ideas or facts.
If you do either or both of these things, you are plagiarizing.
NOTE: This paragraph is also problematic because it changes the sense of several sentences
(for example, “steam-driven companies” in sentence two misses the original’s emphasis on
factories).
Here’s an ACCEPTABLE paraphrase:
Fall River, where the Borden family lived, was typical of northeastern industrial cities of the
nineteenth century. Steam-powered production had shifted labor from agriculture to
manufacturing, and as immigrants arrived in the US, they found work in these new factories. As
a result, populations grew, and large urban areas arose. Fall River was one of these
manufacturing and commercial centers (Williams 1).
Why is this passage acceptable?
This is acceptable paraphrasing because the writer:
* accurately relays the information in the original
* uses her own words.
* lets her reader know the source of her information.
Here’s an example of quotation and paraphrase used together, which is also ACCEPTABLE:
Fall River, where the Borden family lived, was typical of northeastern industrial cities of the
nineteenth century. As steam-powered production shifted labor from agriculture to
manufacturing, the demand for workers “transformed farm hands into factory workers,” and
created jobs for immigrants. In turn, growing populations increased the size of urban areas. Fall
River was one of these manufacturing hubs that were also “centers of commerce and trade”
(Williams 1)
Why is this passage acceptable?
This is acceptable paraphrasing because the writer:
* records the information in the original passage accurately.
The Term Paper on Single parent families 3
Paraphrase: Normally the nuclear family is the ideal family in American society, which consists of a husband, wife, and their children whom they had together. In today’s society there have been some radical changes in the country’s family structures. Most families now are single-parent families. Summary: Over the past couple decades; the choosing of being a single-parent family has become more ...
* gives credit for the ideas in this passage.
* indicated which part is taken directly from her source by putting the passage in quotation
marks and citing the page number.
Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism
1. Put in quotations everything that comes directly from the text especially when taking notes.
2. Paraphrase, but be sure you are not just rearranging or replacing a few words.
Instead, read over what you want to paraphrase carefully; cover up the text with your hand, or
close the text so you can’t see any of it (and so aren’t tempted to use the text as a “guide”).
Write out the idea in your own words without peeking.
3. Check your paraphrase against the original text to be sure you have not accidentally used the
same phrases or words, and that the information is accurate.
Terms You Need to Know (or What is Common Knowledge?)
Common knowledge: facts that can be found in numerous places and are likely to be known by
a lot of people.
Example: John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States in 1960.
This is generally known information. You do not need to document this fact.
However, you must document facts that are not generally known and ideas that interpret facts.
Example: According the American Family Leave Coalition’s new book, Family Issues and
Congress, President Bush’s relationship with Congress has hindered family leave legislation (6).
The idea that “Bush’s relationship with Congress has hindered family leave legislation” is not a
fact but an interpretation; consequently, you need to cite your source.
Quotation: using someone’s words. When you quote, place the passage you are using in
quotation marks, and document the source according to a standard documentation style.
The following example uses the Modern Language Association’s style:
Example: According to Peter S. Pritchard in USA Today, “Public schools need reform but
they’re irreplaceable in teaching all the nation’s young” (14).
Paraphrase: using someone’s ideas, but putting them in your own words. This is probably the
The Essay on 100 Words Text Paper Avoid
Select a paper / assignment which you have written within the last 10 days. The paper must be at least 2 typed pages in length, or 100 words. Only continuous prose can be used for the test. Information contained in charts or graphs should not be included in the test. Quotations are not counted towards the minimum of 100 words. Select a paper / assignment which you have written within the last 10 ...
skill you will use most when incorporating sources into your writing. Although you use your own
words to paraphrase, you must still acknowledge the source of the information.
