Direct quotations should only be used when the information quoted is representative. Writers should aim for the overwhelming majority–usually about 80% or more–of their paper to be in their own words. This use of evidence, though, is rarely considered effective by readers. Over- or mis-use of Quoted Material Overuse of QuotesĪgain, because some writers feel uncomfortable with constructing their own arguments, they feel compelled to overuse the writing that has already been done on the topic. Remember, it is always better to ask questions about plagiarism, rather than suffer the consequences. For further information on how to avoid plagiarism, you might review your university’s handbook and your professor’s syllabus. Nevertheless, the prevalence of plagiarism detection sites, such as Turn It In or Safe Assign, make it likely that writers will be caught if they plagiarize, so it is best to avoid plagiarism and its inevitable consequences. However, writers may still commit plagiarism for a variety of reasons, such as being unfamiliar with the conventions of citation, feeling uncomfortable writing academic discourse, and coming from a culture with a different philosophy on using other people’s words or ideas. When writers enroll in classes, they are expected to submit assignments that represent their own, honest efforts. As a result, the consequences of plagiarism in the American classroom are severe. In the United States intellectual system, plagiarism carries a significant stigma, and tends to be viewed as an intentional act of deceit (or dishonesty). The Oxford English Dictionary defines “plagiarism” as “the action or practice of taking someone else’s work, idea, etc., and passing it off as one’s own literary theft.” ” Plagiarism in writing occurs when writers use information they found in an outside source and don’t say where the information came from. Writers who are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with incorporating outside material into their own work may make some of the following common mistakes: Similarly, using source material and established conventions are important–you wouldn’t build a house without a roof and walls–but the paper still needs to be distinguishable from others.Īs writers move into building their own “houses,” finding that middle ground for integrating evidence still might not be clear. What kind of “upgrades” are you including–granite countertops or tile? Carpet or hardwood flooring? These choices make the house your own. While writers use the blueprint established by others who write on the same topic, they nevertheless have to construct their house on their own. The process of writing a research paper becomes easier if you imagine it is like building a house. However, in the middle of these different directives, there is a middle ground where writers can successfully integrate evidence without it overtaking their own messages. What does it mean to be original while entering the research conversations that others have had? When is the writer’s voice appropriate, and when will it lead to reader’s confusion? Some of the guidelines may even seem contradictory to each other. These different perspectives may make you feel like you’re trying to perform a high-wire act. Improve your English to fit into adiscourse community by building upon what you hear and read Improve upon and/or disagree with those same opinions Rely on experts’ and authorities’ opinions In the following chart from the Purdue Online Writing Lab, Stolley, Brizee, and Paiz suggest that some of the reasons writers have difficulty navigating the appropriate place of outside material in their writing is due to some seeming contradictions in assignment guidelines instructors give: Develop a topic based on what has already been said and written This component of writing can be difficult because the writer knows it is their paper, and may not understand why they need to use other people’s work or how this can be done effectively. One of the common questions that writers have about research-based assignments is how they can integrate evidence from appropriate academic sources effectively. However, creating an effective balance between these two things can be tricky. During the research process, writers discover academic conversations and learn how to build on those conversations with their own ideas. Research is a major component of many genres of writing.
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