Plagiarism Tutorial

What is Plagiarism? 

This lesson was created by Ted Frick, Indiana University. Permission to republish granted for non-profit, educational purposes.

Spend a few minutes taking this plagiarism tutorial. It gives helpful examples on what is and is not considered plagiarism.

Item 1.

In the case below, the original source material is given along with a sample of student work. Determine if this is plagiarism. Then answer the question below by clicking the appropriate radio button.

Original Source Material Sample of Student Written Work

Technology has significantly transformed education at several major turning points in our history. In the broadest sense, the first technology was the primitive modes of communication used by prehistoric people before the development of spoken language. Mime, gestures, grunts, and drawing of figures in the sand with a stick were methods used to communicate -- yes, even to educate. Even without speech, these prehistoric people were able to teach their young how to catch animals for food, what animals to avoid, which vegetation was good to eat and which was poisonous.

(Quoted from: Frick, T. (1991; 2000) Restructuring Education Through Technology)

The first technology was the primitive modes of communication used by prehistoric people before the development of spoken language.

Bibliography:

Frick, T. (1991).Restructuring education through technology. Bloomington, IN: Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation
Item 1. Is this Plagiarism?
Correct.  This is plagiarism.  The student did not put quotation marks around the text, and so it appears that the text is words the student wrote.  Also, there is no acknowledgement of the original source adjacent to the plagiarized text.
Incorrect.  Select another choice or a different reason.

Item 2.

In the case below, the original source material is given along with a sample of student work. Determine if this is plagiarism. Then answer the question below by clicking the appropriate radio button.

Original Source Material Sample of Student Written Work

Technology has significantly transformed education at several major turning points in our history. In the broadest sense, the first technology was the primitive modes of communication used by prehistoric people before the development of spoken language. Mime, gestures, grunts, and drawing of figures in the sand with a stick were methods used to communicate -- yes, even to educate. Even without speech, these prehistoric people were able to teach their young how to catch animals for food, what animals to avoid, which vegetation was good to eat and which was poisonous.

(Quoted from: Frick, T. (1991; 2000) Restructuring Education Through Technology)

Frick (1991) believes that "... the first technology was the primitive modes of communication used by prehistoric people before the development of spoken language" (p. 10).

Bibliography:

Frick, T. (1991).Restructuring education through technology. Bloomington, IN: Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation
Item 2. Is this Plagiarism?
Correct.  This is not plagiarism.  Quotation marks surround the quoted text; the source is clearly identified in the student's writing; and a full  bibliographic citation is provided in the references.
Incorrect.  Select another choice or a different reason.
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