Many students make the mistake of thinking that if they simply rewrite information from a source in their own words, they are not plagiarizing. After all, plagiarism is about words, isn't it?

Plagiarism

is not just about stealing someone else's words,

but also about stealing ideas!

Resources to help in identifying and avoiding plagiarism:


• Plagiarism: Recognize and Avoid It (Indiana Univ.)
• Avoiding Plagiarism (University of Arizona)
• Avoiding Plagiarism (University of Missouri)

Several teachers at Rufus King are now using this service, which identifies  unoriginal material:    Turnitin.com

• using a published author's work,
  • copying directly from a book, magazine, newspaper, song, or Internet without using quotation marks and/or without providing the author's name and a bibliography
  • paraphrasing, putting the text in your own words, and not providing the author's name and a bibliography
  • summarizing, using key words, phrases, or ideas from the text, and not providing the author's name and a bibliography
  • using statistical data or copying maps, charts or graphs from a book, magazine, newspaper, song, or Internet without providing the author's name and a bibliography
  • using facts that are not generally known or accepted as common knowledge
• using a friend's work,*
  • having him tell you the answer or part of the answer
  • copying homework
• and cheating on a test.
  • using notes not allowed
  • using a textbook not allowed
  • looking at someone else's test

• If the source is a friend or the Internet, do your own work!
• If you have incorporated other sources, any of the examples of "using an author's published work," cite the original author of the outside work you used. Ask your teacher what format (MLA or APA) you should use for citations and bibliographies. 

*A person who allows someone to copy her work is equally as guilty of plagiarism as the person copying. If your best friend owned a grocery store, you wouldn't work for her for free. Why work for free in school?!?

Plagiarism, an extremely serious offense, can result in school in a failing grade for the assignment or even the entire course or disciplinary action, including expulsion. In the professional world, plagiarism can result in a lawsuit, fines, termination of employment, and even jail time, not to mention public embarrassment and loss of integrity.

So how do you avoid plagiarism? Ask yourself, "Is this work completely mine? Did I really come up with all the ideas and words?" If the answer is no or not completely, you need to do one of two things

• If the source is a friend or the Internet, do your own work!
• If you have incorporated other sources, any of the examples of “using an author’s published work,” cite the original author of the outside work you used.  Ask your teacher what format (MLA or APA) you should use for citations and bibliographies. 

 School Policy on Plagiarism

Any instance of plagiarism is an automatic zero (0) for the assignment and a letter requiring parent signature and copied to your administrator and the IB coordinator for IB students. More than one offense will result in a referral with recommendation for suspension.