How do you know when you're plagiarizing?

Question

Is paraphrasing considered plagiarizing? Also, how do you know when to cite sources? Can someone give me an example of each? Thanks in advance. =]

Answer 1

Paraphrasing is plagarizing in some cases. If you just change a few words that mean the same thing and keep the rest of the sentence the same you are plagarizing. As for citing your sources as a general rule if you used it cite it.

Here is a website that will explain plagarizing a little better for you

http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

Answer 2

I know it's tricky and I've had a lot of experience with it, being on an Honor Forum that had to decide who had plagiarized and should therefore be expelled from the school-- a scary decision when you're actually in the room. That said, I have some pretty opinionated ideas but then again I've had four years of active thinking to work them out.

The easiest way to tell if you are plagiarizing is if you are using an idea from a source (whether it is a small idea, in only one or two sentences, or a large idea throughout the whole text) without making any mention of what that source is. The point being that, although you may know where the research happened, your reader does not, and will assume that any ideas that aren't explicitly credited to someone else are originally yours.

The best advice I can give is to cite EVERY source, even the ones you don't directly quote or paraphrase, the ones that you only use general ideas from. And give credit within the flow of your essay for specific facts, even if you aren't using a quotation ("In the *fictitious* article 'Your Brain and You,' Seymoure Brains writes that the brain is..."). Err on the side of giving too much credit: make note of the people who edited your work, even just reading a paragraph, cite an article that you read for a general feeling but never specifically referred to, and of course, cite any piece of information that you specifically refer to or quote.

I've heard (and seen) a lot of different versions of "paraphrasing," from copying a paragraph and changing a few words, to real, live paraphrasing, which is defined by the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary (http://www.m-w.com) as "a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form." (Notice how I credited the dictionary website within my sentence, so you (the reader) know where I got that specific fact from. I also credited it in the sources section.)

Plagiarism or faux-paraphrasing would be:
1. copying and pasting the definition WITHOUT citing any source, which is essentially claiming it as your own
2. 'paraphrasing' it as "Rewriting a passage, text or work in another form" -- that is basically the same thing as the dictionary definition, with some words changed and some words deleted

An actual paraphrasing of that definition would be:
"understanding and extracting the meaning of a piece of text (either spoken or written) and then describing it using your own words."

And sometimes there really is no better way to say something. In those cases it's often better to quote it than to try to paraphrase it. But in either case, paraphrasing or quoting, always cite your source!

Answer 3

Paraphrasing is considered plagiarizing if you pass it off as your own thought. It is not plagiarizing if you cite the source material. Anytime you quote something specifically or refer to someone else's idea you should cite it. It is a good practice to cite anything you think you might be plagiarizing.

:)

Answer 4

Would the original author recognize his work - then you are plagiarizing. Read the information & then write what you learned - that is called writing.

Answer 5

When you are copying word for word, someone else's writing, you are plagarizing. Most teachers can tell and there are websites that help them so think twice before you write.

Answer 6

This study aims to construct a holistic model of teaching ministry in the church related institution particularly in Brokenshire College Davao City. With deep considerations in the life and journey of the church related institution and the recent challenges plugging the country, this thesis is constructed utilizing Biblical grounds from Old and New Testaments and various approaches from known theologians are holistically explored. The “practical theology” of Richard Osmer is used in the critical process of assessing problems. It also provides the necessary steps in order to know and understand the main issue of the problems. The “Trinitarian approach on teaching ministry” from Moltmaan provides us the understanding of the Theo-drama of God’s creation, redemption and glorification. Shin Guen Jang’s approaches give insights on a “well balanced community”, “congregation as a community of grace,” “ecclesiastical practices as a means of grace”, and “teaching ministry as a social means of grace”. Hope Antone’s approaches in Christian education “behind the wall” “at the wall” and “beyond the wall” give new ideas on how to deal people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Drawing out from all these concerns and approaches, the researcher constructs this holistic model of teaching ministry focusing in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines -church related institution. Let the abounding love to all of us working for God’s Kingdom be present in all our endeavors.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The researcher would like to express her gratitude to the following persons whom without their generous assistance, this research would not been made possible.
Special gratitude to Dr. Shin Geun Jang, the thesis adviser, for providing me his untiring guidance at every step in my thesis writing; his academic enlightenments and wholehearted support inspired me to finish this study. Likewise to the members of the panel, Dr. Kyoo Min Lee and Dr. Young Ju Kim for sharing their expertise, constructive comments, wonderful insights and valuable suggestions which contributed much in the improvement of this study. Also to all my professors at Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary who has been part of my academic growth in the field of theology, it was a great journey learning about new perspectives and ideas that challenged me and gave me more inspiration to continue serving the people of God with utmost sincerity, love and dedication. I also appreciate the kindness of the Center for World Mission office staff and the school librarians that had been very helpful to me.
My special gratitude to Rev. Chung Hun- Kyo, senior pastor of the West Riverside Presbyterian Church, who offered prayer on my behalf and supported me spiritually, psychologically and financially. Pastor Young Kyu Soe and all Pastors who are assigned past and present and the whole congregation of the West Riverside Church for their love and financial support; the PCTS who provided me scholarship too, without all of these, my studies would not been possible. I deeply appreciated this program of Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary for giving me this opportunity, thus I am deeply honored to be one of the recipient of this great program for International Students.
To Ms. Darwin Royo-Lee, an English teacher in the Brokenshire College Toril, who was always available in proofreading this thesis and even suggested me, suited words of this thesis.
To Rev. Frank Hernando for the final proofreads this paper and his wife Rev. Gloria Hernando and Rev. Elizabeth Portado for their moral support and for sharing their blessings and being there as my a sisters and my friends.
I am deeply appreciating the companionship of my fellow International Students for extending their moral and prayerful support. Thank you very much for your friendship and solidarity.
Finally, to my family and love one; for all of the abundant support and encouragements to finish this study. To my dear mother just recently departed to join our Creator, thank you so much for all your unending support and ever flowing love for me. You are my inspiration always. And above all, the Almighty God, the eternal source of life, the Creator of the Universe, for the chaste wisdom, Divine love and bountiful blessings that gave inspiration to finish this study. To God be the glory!