Plagiarism? It's Your Call!

Plagiarism ranges from copying word-for-word to paraphrasing a passage without credit and changing only a few words. Below is a sentence from a book. The original source is followed by its use in three student papers. For each student's version review the comments to see if the passage would be considered plagiarism.¹

Original Passage

Still, the telephone was only a convenience, permitting Americans to do more casually and with less effort what they had already been doing before.
Daniel J. Boorstin, The Americans: The Democratic Experience, page 390.

Abbie: The telephone was a convenience, enabling Americans to do more casually and with less effort what they had already been doing before.

Comments on Abbie's passage
This is plagiarism in its worst form. Abbie does not indicate that the words and ideas belong to Boorstin, leaving her readers to believe the words are hers. She has stolen the words and ideas and attempted to cover the theft by changing or omitting an occasional word.
Brian: Daniel J. Boorstin argues that the telephone was only a convenience, permitting Americans to do more casually and with less effort what they had already been doing before.

Comments on Brian's passage
Even though Brian acknowledges his source, this is plagiarism. He has copied the original almost word for word, yet he has not supplied quotation marks to indicate the extent of his borrowing.
Chad: Daniel J. Boorstin has noted that most Americans considered the telephone as simply "a convenience," an instrument that allowed them "to do more casually and with less effort what they had already been doing before" (390).

Comments on Chad's passage
Chad has done a good job. He has identified his source at the beginning of the paragraph, letting readers know who is being quoted and has provided a footnote directing them to the exact source of the statement. He has paraphrased some of Boorstin's words and quoted others, but makes it clear to the reader which words are his and which belong to Boorstin. He also included the page number of the quote as an in-text reference, which directs readers to the Works Cited page at the end of his paper.

¹Excerpt, examples, and commentary above are from James M. McCrimmon, Writing With A Purpose, page 499.

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Last modified: Aug 02, 2006, 09:48 EDT