English Language Arts
Grade 8
15 min
Identify plagiarism
Identify plagiarism
What you'll learn
- Define plagiarism in their own words and provide at least three different examples of plagiarism with 100% accuracy.
- Identify at least three instances of plagiarism within provided text excerpts with 80% accuracy.
- Explain the consequences of plagiarism, both academic and professional, listing at least two consequences in each category with 100% accuracy.
- Apply strategies to avoid plagiarism, such as paraphrasing and citing sources, by rewriting three plagiarized sentences into original sentences, correctly citing the original source in MLA format with 100% accuracy.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define plagiarism and its different forms.
Distinguish between properly cited information and plagiarized content.
Analyze text for missing or incorrect citations.
Compare student writing with source material to detect direct plagiarism.
Identify instances of improper paraphrasing that constitute plagiarism.
Explain the ethical implications of plagiarism in academic work.
Ever read something and wonder, 'Did they really come up with that themselves?' 🤔 In this lesson, we'll become plagiarism detectives!
You'll learn how to spot plagiarism in various forms, understand why it's a serious academic offense, and develop critical reading skills to evaluate the originality of written work. This skill is crucial for maintaining academic...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PlagiarismPresenting someone else's ideas, words, or work as your own without proper acknowledgment or citation.Copying a paragraph from Wikipedia into your essay without citing it.
Direct Plagiarism (Word-for-Word)Copying text directly from a source without using quotation marks and providing a citation.Writing 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' in your paper, knowing you read it in a book, but not putting it in quotes or citing the book.
Paraphrasing PlagiarismRestating someone else's ideas in your own words but without proper citation, or changing only a few words while keeping the original sentence structure too similar.Changing 'The rapid auburn canine leaps above the indolent hound' from a source, but not citing it, and...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
The 'If it's not yours, cite it' Rule
Any idea, fact, or wording that you did not originate yourself must be attributed to its original source. This includes direct quotes, paraphrases, and summaries.
Use this rule to quickly assess if a piece of information needs a citation. If you learned it from somewhere, cite it.
The 'Quotation Mark Check' Rule
If words are taken directly from a source, they *must* be enclosed in quotation marks and followed by a citation.
Apply this rule when comparing a student's text to a source. If exact phrases match without quotes and citation, it's direct plagiarism.
The 'Compare and Contrast' Rule
To identify paraphrasing or summary plagiarism, compare the student's text to the original sou...
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
A student is writing a research paper and combines information from three different articles into a single paragraph to explain a complex topic. The student rewrites the ideas in their own words but does not include any citations, believing that since the information is from multiple sources, it doesn't need to be credited to just one. Why is this reasoning incorrect?
A.The student should have only used one source to avoid confusion.
B.This is a sophisticated form of plagiarism because it synthesizes multiple sources' ideas without giving credit to any of them.
C.This reasoning is correct; combining sources makes the ideas the student's own.
D.The student only needed to cite the first source they used, not all three.
Challenging
SOURCE: 'The chameleon's remarkable ability to change color is not primarily for camouflage, as is widely believed. Instead, scientists have found it is a physiological response to mood, temperature, and a method of communication with other chameleons.' (Herpetology Today, p. 21). Which student response demonstrates the highest level of academic integrity and understanding?
A.chameleon's ability to change color is not for camouflage, but is a response to mood, temperature, and a way to communicate.
B.It is a common myth that chameleons change color mainly for camouflage. Research indicates that this color change is actually a complex communication tool and a reaction to their physical state and emotional mood (Herpetology Today, p. 21).
C.The chameleon's remarkable ability to change color is not primarily for camouflage, but is a physiological response to mood and temperature and a method of communication (Herpetology Today, p. 21).
D.Chameleons can change color for many reasons. For example, they might be communicating with other chameleons or reacting to the temperature.
Challenging
A student finds a fact in a textbook. To be sure it's correct, they find the same fact on a reputable website. The student then writes the fact in their paper without a citation, arguing, 'If two sources say it, it must be common knowledge.' Based on the tutorial's principles, why is this a flawed argument?
A.The student should have found a third source to be absolutely sure.
B.The argument is flawed because 'common knowledge' is about information being widely known by the general public, not about how many sources confirm it. The student still had to look it up.
C.The argument is correct, as confirming a fact makes it public domain.
D.The student should have cited the website instead of the textbook because websites are more current.
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing FreeMore from Additional Topics
English Language Arts for other grades
Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Identify plagiarism"?
Identify plagiarism is a Grade 8 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Identify plagiarism?
You'll be able to: Define plagiarism in their own words and provide at least three different examples of plagiarism with 100% accuracy; Identify at least three instances of plagiarism within provided text excerpts with 80% accuracy; Explain the….
Is "Identify plagiarism" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with Identify plagiarism?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.