Test Prep: Break HW #2

      Plagiarism.  We all know what it is.  We've all seen it and we all have probably done it once before.  It may have been accidental or intentional.  But it is wrong.  And it should not be done.  In Ms. Galang's blog reponse, what the student did wrong was that he copied word for word text from a source but did not put it in quotes nor add the source, he acted like he wrote it when he didn't.  To include the source correctly, he could have put it in quote and wrote the source in parenthesis or at the bottom; he could have introduced the source first or he could have simply paraphrased it.  

      The student could have included the text information like this: Some features of this painting are exaggerated.  But this happens to be a relateable scene.  Many poeple feel comfortable and at with this scene also.  In  "A Brief Understanding of the Starry Night Paintings," the author (unknown), explains " There is a peaceful essence flowing from the structures. Perhaps the cool dark colors and the fiery windows spark memories of our own warm childhood years filled with imagination of what exists in the night and dark starry skies. The center point of the town is the tall steeple of the church, reigning largely over the smaller buildings. This steeple casts down a sense of stability onto the town, and also creates a sense of size and seclusion.To the left of the painting there is a massive dark structure that develops an even greater sense of size and isolation."   Then at the end, he could have included the website.  This would have been easy and the person would have gotten full credit.  

      Some people think that plagiarism is unavoidable.  But you CAN avoice plagiarism.  One way to avoid plagiarizing is simply putting quotes around the copied information and put the source in parenthesis.  The second way is to paraphrase.  But not just simply paraphrase because you pay put the same exact words or simlar words.  So, you can read the source once and then close the book or minimize the web page and summarize the information you just read the best you can from what you remember.  You will not remember it word for word so its easy.  The last way you can avoid plagiarism is by not being lazy and just thinking to yourself, what if someone did that to you?  And don't you want to deserve the grade you get for your work, not someone else's?  Your conscience should soon kick in.  Please don't plagiarize because soon it will become a habit and it will hurt yourself in the end.