Plagiarism: Lesson One

Summary

In this informative lesson, Professor Andrew Young discusses the significance of avoiding plagiarism in academic settings. He defines plagiarism as using someone else's words or ideas without proper attribution, highlighting its serious consequences, including academic penalties and legal ramifications, as illustrated by the Marvin Gaye case with Robin Thicke. The professor emphasizes the importance of understanding assignment expectations, using proper citation styles (particularly MLA), and maintaining integrity by accurately crediting sources through Works Cited pages and in-text citations. The lesson sets the stage for further exploration of citation techniques in subsequent sessions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Plagiarism is defined as using another person's words or ideas without giving credit.
• 📚 Giving credit is essential to avoid plagiarism, and it is considered a serious academic offense.
• 🎵 The lecture illustrates plagiarism with a musical example comparing Marvin Gaye's 'Got to Give It Up' and Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines.'
• 💰 Robin Thicke's case resulted in a $7.3 million payout to Marvin Gaye's estate for plagiarism.
• 🏫 In academia, consequences of plagiarism can include failing an assignment, failing a course, or potential suspension or dismissal.
• 📜 Understanding assignment expectations and citation styles is crucial in avoiding plagiarism.
• ✏️ Different fields may require different citation styles, such as APA for social sciences and MLA for humanities.
• 🚫 Obvious forms of plagiarism include buying essays or having someone else write your work.
• 📝 Paraphrasing without crediting the original source is also considered plagiarism.
• 📖 To document a source in MLA format, both a Works Cited page and an in-text citation are required.

Q & A

What is plagiarism according to Professor Andrew Young?

Plagiarism is defined as the act of using another person's words or ideas without giving credit to that person.

Why is it important to avoid plagiarism?

Avoiding plagiarism is important because it upholds academic integrity and respects the original creators' rights. Failure to do so can lead to serious academic consequences.

What example does Professor Young provide to illustrate the seriousness of plagiarism?

He uses the example of Marvin Gaye's song 'Got to Give It Up' and Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines,' where Thicke was accused of plagiarism and had to pay $7.3 million to Gaye's estate.

What are some potential consequences of plagiarism in academia?

Consequences can include failing the assignment, failing the course, or being referred for possible suspension or dismissal from the institution.

What citation styles does Professor Young mention?

He mentions APA style for social sciences, nursing, and business, and MLA style for liberal arts and humanities.

What are two common forms of plagiarism that students might commit?

Two common forms include copying information verbatim without credit and paraphrasing someone else's ideas without providing proper attribution.

What is a 'Works Cited' page?

A 'Works Cited' page is a list of all the sources referenced in a paper, organized in alphabetical order, that provides complete citation information for each source.

What is an in-text citation?

An in-text citation, also known as a parenthetical citation, is a brief reference within the essay that directs readers to the full citation in the 'Works Cited' page.

How do 'Works Cited' pages and in-text citations work together?

They work together as a cross-referencing system, allowing professors to verify sources by matching in-text citations with the corresponding entries in the 'Works Cited' page.

What will be covered in the next lesson following this one?

The next lesson will cover how to write a 'Works Cited' page and how to effectively use in-text citations, including direct quotes, paraphrasing, and attribution.