Research Writing: Keep It Honest

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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What Is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is when you use someone else’s words, ideas, or work without giving proper credit. That includes the following.

Copying text word-for-word without quoting or citing

Paraphrasing too closely to the original

Reusing your own work from a previous assignment without permission

Forgetting to include citations

Some students think plagiarism is just copying a whole article, but it can be as simple as using a sentence or idea without naming the source.

The Consequences Are Real

Comitting plagiarism can result in one — or all of — the following.

Automatic failure on the assignment or course

Suspension or expulsion from school

Damaged reputation—and not just in school

Even unintentional plagiarism is still plagiarism.

10 Types of Plagiarism You Might Not Know About

Here’s a breakdown of common plagiarism types students encounter.

1. Clone – Copying content word-for-word without any credit.

2. Control-C – Copying most of it but changing a few words.

3. Find-and-Replace – Swapping out keywords to make it look different.

4. Remix – Combining parts from multiple sources without rewriting or credit.

5. Recycle – Reusing your own old paper without permission or citation.

6. Hybrid – Mixing correctly cited sources with copied text.

7. Mashup – Throwing together quotes from different sources with no original writing.

8. 404 Error – Citing a fake or incorrect source to cover your tracks.

9. Aggregator – Overusing sources with very little original thought.

10. Retweet – Paraphrasing too closely to the original without adding your own spin.

Some of these are deliberate. Some are accidental. Either way—they count.

How to Avoid Plagiarism

Here are four simple strategies that will keep your writing honest.

1. Take Careful Notes

Keep track of every source you use, including books, articles, websites, and interviews. Write down the author, title, date, and where you found it.

2. Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize—But Do It Right

Quote: Use the author's exact words in quotation marks, followed by an in-text citation.

Example: Thomas Jefferson wrote, “No power to prescribe any religious exercise... has been delegated to the general government” (Jefferson).

Paraphrase: Restate the idea in your own words, keeping the original meaning.

Example: Jefferson believed the U.S. Constitution did not give the federal government any power over religion (Jefferson).

Summarize: Shorten the original text while still capturing the main idea.

Example: Jefferson argued that the Constitution left decisions about religion up to the states (Jefferson).

3. Cite Everything That’s Not Yours: Use in-text citations whenever you do the following.

• Use someone else’s idea
• Quote directly
• Paraphrase or summarize
• Reference a fact that’s not common knowledge

4. Use the Golden Rule: When in doubt, give credit. It’s always better to cite too much than too little.

Now that you know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, test your skills in the Got It? section. You’ll try spotting the problems and fixing them like a plagiarism pro.