Can this be done by 2pm tomorrow?

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Study Notes

Introduction to Scholarly Writing: Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Is plagiarism a concern at Walden? Yes—just as it is a concern in institutions throughout the world. However, in a largely

online environment where the written word is the only evidence of a student’s

knowledge of a topic, it is more than a little tempting for students to “borrow” the words

and ideas of others, especially when it’s late at night and the hard-working student has

finally put the kids to bed (especially when someone else has written such brilliant

words so beautifully).

But in starkest terms: Plagiarism is not tolerated at Walden University. What Do We Mean by Plagiarism?

The Walden Student Handbook (2013) defines plagiarism as “the use of intellectual

material produced by another person without acknowledging its source.” For example,

plagiarism includes:

o Wholesale copying of passages from works of others into an Assignment,

paper, Discussion board posting, or thesis or dissertation without acknowledgment

o Using the views, opinions, or insights of another without acknowledgment

o Paraphrasing another person’s characteristic or original phraseology,

metaphor, or other literary device without acknowledgment What does that all mean to you? Compare the following two paragraphs on the

next page. (The paragraph on the left appeared in a journal. A student wrote

the paragraph on the right.)

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Journal Article

In recent decades, men have been

bombarded with images in society that

depict the "ideal" male: strong,

muscular, lean, with perfect features.

What many adolescents do not realize

is that most of the male bodies that

they idealize can be acquired only with

the use of anabolic steroids. Thus,

many adolescent boys find themselves

pursuing a body type that is impossible

to obtain. By the time these boys reach

adulthood, many have developed an

eating disorder, such as bulimia, or an

image disorder, such as muscle

dysmorphia. In this article, the authors

describe body image disorders in

adolescent males and offer

intervention strategies for school

counselors.

Stout, E. J., & Frame, M. W. (2004).

Body image disorder in adolescent

males: Strategies for school

counselors. Professional School

Counseling, 8(2), 176–181.

Student Writing

Over the past 30 years, men have

seen many images that show the

"ideal" male: strong, muscular, lean,

with perfect features. Many

adolescents do not realize that most of

the male bodies that they idealize can

be acquired only with the use of

steroids. Thus, many teenaged boys

find themselves pursuing a body type

that is impossible to obtain. When

these boys reach adulthood, many

have developed an eating disorder,

such as bulimia or anorexia, or an

image disorder, such as muscle

dysmorphia. In their article, Stout and

Frame (2004) described body image

disorders in adolescent males and

offered intervention strategies for high

school and junior high school

counselors.

Is the paragraph on the right an example of plagiarism?

Put it this way: These paragraphs might not be identical twins, but they are certainly

fraternal twins. In the student version, a few words were changed here and there, but

the ideas, the order in which they were presented, and nearly all of the words were

written as if they were the student’s own rather than those of Stout and Frame, who

actually wrote them.

So yes, the paragraph on the right is plagiarism.

You cannot take someone else’s words and ideas and recast them as your own, as if

the original work were not at your elbow. Does that mean that you can never refer to

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someone else’s writing? Use a few of someone else’s words? Quote another author?

You can only if you document your sources carefully so your reader knows who

wrote what.

Remember, scholarly writers read and think critically, so there is no reason to copy

material word for word. And scholarly writers synthesize what they have read to

show, in their own words, that what they are writing is factual.

Using Direct Quotes

Direct quotes can enhance your writing; however, there are important considerations to keep in mind.

Consider using direct quotes when

o The writer has expressed something in a way you consider to be “just right”

o The writer has revealed something about himself or herself by the words he or

she has chosen; or the original words are critical to a specific definition or point that you are trying to make

There are a considerable number of rules when it comes to using direct quotes. Here

is just a sampling (based on APA style).

o Direct quotes require quotation marks and, in parentheses, a page or paragraph

identifier.

o Generally, the close quote mark comes before the parenthetical citation and

is followed by a period.

Example: In an earlier study, Davis (1978) reported, “Children need to exercise every day for at least 45 minutes” (p. 36).

o Block quotes are required when direct quotes are 40 words or longer.

o The final punctuation comes before the parenthetical citation at the end of a block

quote.

o Most Walden Instructors prefer double-spaced block quotes.

o Block quotes require no opening or closing quotation marks or ellipses.

o Block quotes are best avoided or used minimally.

Example:

Capuzzi and Gross (2005) asserted:

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The testing process, when focusing upon characteristic behaviors,

also facilitates counselees’ self-understanding. Many tests

incorporate logical, semantic, and relatively “transparent”

approaches to analysis of human behavior. Thus, actually

engaging in the testing process may enable counselees to learn

new ways of evaluating themselves. (p. 289)