Plagiarism, and how to avoid it
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Plagiarism/ˈpleɪdʒərɪzəm/ | Presenting another person's words, work or ideas as one's own without proper acknowledgement. |
| quoting/ˈkwəʊtɪŋ/ | quoting |
| paraphrasing/ˈpærəfreɪzɪŋ/ | paraphrasing |
| summarising/ˈsʌməraɪzɪŋ/ | summarising |
| citation/saɪˈteɪʃn/ | A reference identifying the source of information, words or ideas used in a work. |
| reference list/ˈrefrəns lɪst/ | A list giving the publication details of sources cited in a piece of work. |
Borrowed ideas still need credit
- Plagiarism 抄袭 presents another person’s words or ideas as your own. Academic writing should distinguish your contribution from the sources it uses.
- Follow your centre’s referencing and collaboration instructions. Possible consequences depend on the institution and case; this lesson does not claim one universal penalty or rule for every university.
Three ways to use a source
- Quoting 引用原文 uses exact words with quotation marks and source credit. Paraphrasing 改写 uses your own wording and sentence structure while retaining the idea and its limits.
- Summarising 概括 condenses a longer text to its main points. Paraphrases and summaries still need credit for borrowed ideas.
Match each way of using a source to what it does.
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All three need source credit for borrowed material; exact quotations additionally need quotation marks. Keep the source meaning and required reference details.
Credit and accuracy work together
- The fictional Lin notebook reports slower growth in one shaded tray, while acknowledging uncontrolled conditions. A faithful paraphrase preserves both the observation and the limitation.
- “Lin proves shade always prevents growth” distorts the source even with a citation. Changing a few words or adding a source label cannot repair an inaccurate meaning.
Supplied fictional Lin (2026) note: shaded seedlings grew more slowly during seven days, but conditions were not controlled. Which paraphrase preserves the meaning and gives credit?
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The credited paraphrase preserves both the limited observation and the uncontrolled-condition warning. A citation cannot repair a false universal or causal claim.
A properly paraphrased idea does not need a citation.
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A genuine paraphrase still borrows an idea, so it needs source credit according to the task’s rules.
Record the full source
- A citation 引用 points to the source; the reference list 参考文献表 gives the required full details. Use the referencing style the task requires, rather than assuming any consistent style is acceptable.
- Record author, date, title and relevant page when taking notes. Label exact quotations immediately so they cannot later be confused with your own wording.
When should you write the citation for a quotation?
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Record the source while copying the quotation, so exact borrowed wording cannot be mistaken for your own notes later.
Translation does not transfer ownership
- Translating a borrowed passage changes its language, not whose idea it is. Credit the source and indicate translated quotation or paraphrase according to the task’s rules.
- Separate source notes, paraphrases and your own comments. A two-column method can help, but still check citations and meaning before submission; no note format makes plagiarism impossible.
Translating a Chinese source into English without a citation is plagiarism.
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Translation changes language rather than ownership of the borrowed idea. Credit the source and label source use appropriately.
Practise using an original classroom source
- Use the supplied fictional source in sheet 2.5 to write a credited paraphrase, a short exact quotation and a full reference entry. It is a classroom note, not published research.
- Compare your work against both the source and local task instructions. Check that you have not added a causal proof, a universal result or an invented publication detail.
Preserve source meaning, distinguish borrowed work and provide the required credit.
Paraphrase this supplied fictional classroom source, retaining its limit and credit: “During seven days, the shaded tray grew more slowly, but uncontrolled conditions prevent us from identifying shade as the sole cause (Lin, 2026, p. 2).”
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Example: “Lin’s seven-day comparison showed slower growth in the shaded tray, but the uncontrolled setup cannot isolate shade as the only cause (Lin, 2026, p. 2).” This is a fictional classroom source.