Module 10 - Draft

Activity 1 | Activity 2 | Activity 3

Activity 2: Summarizing and Plagiarism

Everyone knows that intentional plagiarism involves submitting someone else’s writing as your own, which can result in harsh punishment.  What is not as clearly understood by some writers is what constitutes unintentional plagiarism.  Unintentional plagiarism can occur in a number of ways.  Sometimes a writer does not mark quoted material appropriately in the research gathering phase, and then when the writer uses this material, he or she does not remember that what was written down is a direct quote and not a paraphrase.  Another problematic situation occurs when a researcher borrows heavily from the wording of the original source in an attempt to produce a paraphrase.  The following example includes a short quote taken from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., followed by examples of both unacceptable and acceptable paraphrases:

• “It is true that the police have exercised a degree of discipline in handling the demonstrators. In this sense they have conducted themselves rather ‘nonviolently’ in public. But for what purpose? To preserve the evil system of segregation.” – from King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
• King argues that although the police have exercised some discipline in controlling the demonstrators, they have exerted control to preserve an evil system, that of segregation.  Unacceptable Paraphrase (borrows too much original language)
• King points out that police who showed restraint in confronting demonstrators were still upholding segregation.  Acceptable Paraphrase

If you paraphrase appropriately, you should have no problem with unintentional plagiarism.  However, you may encounter another problem involved with incorporating sources in your writing. If you quote extensively when you should have paraphrased the same content, you may appear to be filling space that should be reserved for your own writing.  This means if you do use direct quotes, do so sparingly.  Only quote significant language that cannot be paraphrased without losing the original impact of the actual wording.