More about Checklist Item Numbers 2 and 3 and How to Work 

Think of this as coaching on how to meet this requirement. If you need for me to talk with you about this, just ask.

 

The links on this webpage take you to the information on Basic Concepts on Plagiarism and “Half-Copy” Plagiarism on this webpage.

 

2

You must follow common standards to reveal to your reader who created the words and/or found the facts you are using in your writing. This is a requirement in courses and in some jobs.

 

Before you worry about quoting something, make sure what you want to quote helps your content.

 

If it does help your content, then make sure you understand two things:

1.     Click the basics of facts and citations and quotation marks so you know how these two things work together.

·         Citations = How you show exactly where the reader can find the fact that you use.
Exactly means a specific page in a document or equivalent that is verifiable.

·         Quotation marks = How you show who created (and owns) what words.

2.     You also need to understand both:

·         That copying the author’s phrases or unique uses of words without quotation marks (“”)and copying the author’s structure can be what The Bedford Handbook calls “half-copy” plagiarism

·         That quotation marks (“”) are not required for proper nouns (such as the Mississippi River) or common nouns (such as river). Click here for examples.

 

Once you are sure you want to quote (to use the author’s exact words) and understand those basics, then use the brain trick with checklist item 3 (below).

 

3

You must follow common standards to reveal any changes you made to the author’s words. This may not be just a punctuation error. You may be misleading your reader about the evidence.

 

The rules for showing what you have taken out (…) of the author’s words or put in ([ ]) are complex and for most of us they are not worth learning.

 

This brain trick lets you be accurate but avoid learning those rules:

  1. Choose 3 to 6 words to quote and change nothing (not an ing or an ed, not a comma, nothing) between the first and the last word.

  2. Put a before the first word and a after the last word.

  3. Place those words with the “ ”within your sentence.

 

  1. If something sounds awkward about your sentences, then change your own words—the only words you have a right to change.

 

 

Basic Concepts on Plagiarism and “Half-Copy” Plagiarism

How Citation and Quotation Marks Fits Together with Facts in Your Own Words and Facts in the Author’s Words

If You Are Confused about What Words in the Author’s Textbook Require Quotation Marks in Your Writing

If You Are Puzzled about Plagiarism or “Half-copy” Plagiarism Being Marked

 

 

How Citation and Quotation Marks Fits Together with Facts in Your Own Words and Facts in the Author’s Words

If you use a fact in the author’s words, citation is not enough; you must also use quotation marks.


What are the rules for citation and use of quotation marks? The rules vary depending upon whether you are writing:

·         A fact from the source in your own words

·         A fact in the author’s words (you are quoting):

 

They have the same requirements for citation (although your professor may choose not to require it for an assignment as I do). They have different requirements for quotation marks.

 

What Kind of Fact Are You Using

Do You Need Citation (Page # etc.)?

Do You Need Quotation Marks (“”)?

A fact in your own words

Yes

 

Note: I do not require that in the Blackboard’s tiny box for essays or in an essay an on-campus student writes in class.

No <Notice this.

A fact in the author’s words

Yes

 

Note: I do not require that in the Blackboard’s tiny box for essays or in an essay an on-campus student writes in class.

Yes <Notice this.

 

Specifics about this course:

·         I do not require citations when you use facts in an essay that you do in the Blackboard’s tiny box for essays. On the other hand, if I do not recognize that the fact is

·         On the other hand, I do require quotation marks if you use the author’s words. In this course, you may not plagiarize or “half-copy” plagiarize. You may however quote, but you have to use the rules for quoting. If you want more tips, use this webpage. If you have questions, please ask.

 

If You Are Confused about What Words in the Author’s Textbook Require Quotation Marks in Your Writing

These examples deal with whether you would need quotation marks on these four uses of an author’s words in a paragraph in your paper. What you do depends:

·         on what words the author wrote

·         on what words you want to write

 

What the Author Wrote

What Words You Want to Write

Do You Need Quotation Marks (“”)? and Why

the Mississippi River

the Mississippi River

No – Proper nouns (like Mississippi River) belong to all of us.

the green, roaring river

the river

No – Common nouns (like river) belong to all of us.

the green, roaring Mississippi River

the roaring Mississippi River

Yes

 

These are the author’s unique string of words so you identify his words them with “”—made larger below so you can see them:

Trade was harder because of the roaring Mississippi River.

 

roaring

Yes

 

This is the author’s labeling of a condition and it is easier to be clear by using the author’s word with “”— with the “” made larger below so you can see them:

 

The author explained that the roaringriver made trade more difficult.

 

If You Are Puzzled about Plagiarism or “Half-copy” Plagiarism Being Marked

Students are usually puzzled about the plagiarism or “half-plagiarism” marking because they lack some basic information. Here are the basics.

 

1.     The submission of a paper with words from an author without quotation marks can be the professor's evidence that you plagiarized.
Some professors may not notice, but some may call it plagiarism. Do not assume that past responses by professors guarantee what future professors will want.

2.     If you do this, some professors may label your work as “half-copy” plagiarism (term from The Bedford Handbook, page 692) if you:

·         Either copy an author’s phrases without quotation marks (“”)

·         Or use the author’s sentence structure and just swap a few words with what you think are synonyms

Caution about Personal Decision-making and about Jobs:

·         In my life, I never saw a safe decision made with anything but careful reading.

·         In my life in industry, I never saw a job that paid well for passive reading and “half-copy” plagiarism.

·         In my life after returning to teaching in the community college, I have seen only 1 person who made a living copying words from one place to another.

 

 

Copyright C. J. Bibus, Ed.D. 2003-2013

 

 

WCJC Department:

History – Dr. Bibus

Contact Information:

281.239.1577 or bibusc@wcjc.edu

Last Updated:

2013

WCJC Home:

http://www.wcjc.edu/