Plagiarism: 6 different types of plagiarism to AVOID

Summary

This video kicks off a mini-series about paraphrasing, beginning with a deep dive into plagiarism. The speaker introduces six types of plagiarism: direct, find and replace, patchwork, accidental, self-plagiarism, and total plagiarism. They explain the importance of understanding these forms to avoid academic penalties, such as failing assignments or being denied publication. The video highlights that even unintentional plagiarism can have serious consequences. The host encourages students to use plagiarism checkers and emphasizes that asking for help or extensions is better than submitting plagiarized work.

Takeaways

• 📚 Plagiarism can have serious consequences, regardless of whether it's intentional or unintentional.
• 🔍 A plagiarism score below 10% is a good benchmark, with under 5% being ideal to avoid penalties.
• ✏️ Direct plagiarism (clone plagiarism) involves copying someone else's work word-for-word without adding original content.
• 📝 Find-and-replace plagiarism occurs when you copy text and change a few words using a thesaurus, which is still considered plagiarism.
• 🎨 Patchwork plagiarism happens when you take pieces from different sources and combine them without proper paraphrasing or citation.
• 😬 Accidental plagiarism is common and occurs when you paraphrase correctly but forget to provide proper citations and references.
• 🌀 Self-plagiarism is when you reuse your own previous work without citing it, even though it's your own writing.
• 🚨 Total plagiarism (global plagiarism) involves submitting someone else's entire work as your own, often resulting in the harshest penalties.
• 🖥️ Professors typically use plagiarism checkers on submitted work, so it's important to check your paper before submitting.
• 💡 If in doubt or under pressure, it's better to ask for an extension than resort to plagiarism, as the consequences are far more severe.

Q & A

What is plagiarism, according to the video?

Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's work or ideas without proper attribution, whether it's intentional or unintentional. It can lead to serious consequences, such as losing points on an assignment, failing the assignment, or being denied publication.

Why is it important to understand plagiarism?

Understanding plagiarism is crucial because whether it's intentional or not, the consequences remain the same. Avoiding plagiarism can help students prevent penalties and ensure the integrity of their work.

What is considered a 'safe' plagiarism score according to the video?

A 'safe' plagiarism score is one that is in the single digits, ideally below 5%. Scores between 5% and 10% are still acceptable, but anything over 10% can result in penalties from professors.

What is direct plagiarism or clone plagiarism?

Direct plagiarism, also known as clone plagiarism, occurs when someone copies another person's work verbatim and presents it as their own without any original input, even if an in-text citation is provided.

What is find-and-replace plagiarism?

Find-and-replace plagiarism is when a person copies another’s work but changes a few words using a thesaurus or other methods to alter the original text slightly. This is still considered plagiarism since it lacks proper paraphrasing.

How does patchwork plagiarism differ from the other types?

Patchwork plagiarism involves taking small pieces from multiple sources and combining them without proper paraphrasing. This can give the illusion of synthesizing research, but it's still plagiarism because the ideas aren't fully reworded or original.

What is accidental plagiarism?

Accidental plagiarism happens when someone paraphrases a source correctly but forgets to provide proper citation or include it in the reference list. It’s the most common form of plagiarism, often due to poor source tracking.

Can a student plagiarize their own work?

Yes, self-plagiarism occurs when a student reuses their previous work, such as a paper they wrote in an earlier class, without citing it. Even though it’s their own writing, it’s considered plagiarism if reused without permission.

What is global or total plagiarism?

Global or total plagiarism happens when a person submits someone else’s work entirely as their own, such as paying someone to write a paper for them or using another's work without giving any credit. This type of plagiarism usually results in the harshest penalties.

What advice does the video offer if a student feels desperate about a deadline?

The video advises students to ask their professor for an extension if they're feeling pressured rather than plagiarizing someone else's work. It is better to face a denied extension than to suffer the consequences of plagiarism.