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The Plague of Plagiarism
What is this disease? Is it contagious? Read the hints on this page to find out how to avoid contacting this dangerous "disease". Also, read the information on plagiarism from InfoPlease.
Plagiarism or to plagiarize means:
1. Spreading the plague
2. Playing with your eyes to find out what they do
3. Bothering someone constantly
4. Using someone else's word or ideas without giving them credit
Copying may be the highest form of flattery but when you copy someone else's written words or ideas and pretend they are your own you are breaking the law.
So, how do you write a paper for school without copying? Here's how:
1. Decide what your topic is.
Example: Research and write a paper on "Toenails."
2. Think of other words or search terms that might lead you to information on toenails.
Example: Feet, manicure, toes, shoes, walking.
3. Find information on toenails in several places using all the search terms. Look in encyclopedias, books in the proper section of the library, in related books, and on the Internet.
4. Every time you find an interesting piece of information write in down. But not just anywhere.
5. First write a bibliography (works cited) for the source, the book or Web site, at the top of a piece of notebook paper. Include the Author, Title, Publisher, City, Date, & URL address.
Example: Schmoe, Joe, How to Grow a Healthy Toe. Big Books Co., San Diego, 1900.
6. Then write all the notes from that source on that piece of paper.
7. If the fact is known by everyone you do not have to write down a page number or even say where you read it.
Example: Most people have five toes on each foot.
8. If you copy words exactly from a written work you must put quotation marks around them and also include the place you took them from and the page.
Example: "Alex the Great survived a famine by eating all his toenails (Schmoe, 37)."
Example: "Alex was forever sorry afterwards, for his feet looked very odd in flip flops (Schmoe, 48)."
9. When you have gathered all your information, organize all the bits and pieces and tie them all together with your own words.
10. Remember, include in your bibliography every resource from which you took information. Put quotation marks around any words you copy exactly and list the author and page number right after it. Then you will never be accused of plagiarism. You will avoid cheating. You will be an honest and upright research paper writer!
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