When a student collects data from different sources, it must be stressed to document the information to give credit to the author of the information. To take the information and use it for one’s own words is plagiarism. Storey stated that plagiarism is the same as “piracy”. (8) He went on to state that by stealing someone’s words is stealing someone’s brainchild. There are penalties for plagiarizing material. For students to avoid plagiarism, they must understand the ways plagiarism could occur.
Ways to Plagiarize
Storey outlines four ways, direct plagiarism, indirect plagiarism, inadvertent plagiarism, and academic dishonesty, that students can plagiarize. One way detailed by Storey is direct plagiarism when a student writes word for word from another writer. This happens in my class when students use Wikipedia. Students feel the research is already completed, and do not feel the need to look further. However, as writers, students can borrow words from another by giving credit and explaining why they relate to what the writer’s purpose meant to them. By doing this, the student avoids making a big mistake.
Secondly, Storey explains indirect plagiarism is happening when students attempt to paraphrase. The paraphrasing consists of changing one or two words in a sentence, but the other words in a sentence is directly from another writer. I have noticed many students to fall guilty of indirect plagiarism because many students believe that all non-fictional facts need to be added and do not want to “change history” as my students would explain to me.
Thirdly, Storey discussed inadvertent plagiarism when students do not place quotation marks around a direct quote from a book. Many times, students are in a rush and forget to place the quotation marks. This form of plagiarism could be contributed to students’ digital lives on social media. It could create a shortened attention span as Price stated in her “Breaking Up With Your Phone” book. If this is the case, the teacher needs to provide direct instruction on double checking one’s rough drafts and revising to make inadvertent plagiarism doesn’t happen.
Finally, Storey strongly addressed academic dishonesty when students have other students write an essay for them including purchasing a paper on-line. He continued to talk about students who hand in the same paper to two different teachers. Academic dishonesty can also be explained by the students’ careless study habits.
To combat plagiarism in young writers, teachers should provide examples of plagiarism and have students explain why it is plagiarism. Burkhardt and MacDonald designed an exercise for teachers to complete where the student reads a passage then reads seven different responses to the passage. (9) Students must decide which reading responses are plagiarism and which are authentic writing.
Give credit to the sources
Research is driven by credible sources. The student not only has to tell the difference between credible and opinionated sources, but the student needs to be able to distinguish between primary sources and secondary works. Primary sources can be defined as “sources that originated in the time period that historians are studying.” These works may include personal memoirs, government documents, transcripts of legal proceedings, oral histories, and traditions, archaeological and biological evidence, and visual sources like paintings and photographs. Secondary works can be defined as “books and articles by writers who are interpreting the events and primary sources that you are studying.” I would classify Wikipedia as a secondary work. Wikipedia is a collection of primary sources. This is very confusing to students in the case of Wikipedia, which primary sources are used to provide information.
By week four, teachers are explaining to students how to organize their research into their first draft including the 3 sources that the student found most relevant to their topic. Both Brundage and Storey discuss how to establish a well rounded research bibliography. The final piece of a student’s research is to properly cite research material in their paper and the reading list. Back in my middle school years, I was told to use APA style to reference sources. In today’s world, there are numerous ways to cite your information. Teachers should plan to research the various ways and introduce the most kid friendly way to create a bibliography to their students. This will also include sites to help them understand the parts of the bibliography entries.
As Storey stated on page 30, it is important to “summarize the source and state why you will be using it in your paper.” (10) Throughout a student’s research, the student should be taking notes on the information that they are gathering and from each source. This can be done as Cornell notes, using post-it notes attached to the printed copy of an online book with important points from the page that is posted, or highlight the material of printed text from a digital resource. Each source should serve a purpose to the student’s paper as well as the student understanding the reason for the source. These techniques will be included in my final curriculum unit as a checklist for students and a daily lesson plan for teachers to guide their instruction of researching topics.
To sum it up, our digital lives have evolved to more than just social media. Our phones can be used for more than just passing the time when school is not in session. We can use our phones to improve our knowledge of certain topics and to enhance our interest in unknown topics. We can use online library resources without leaving our homes. We can sit on our favorite cozy chair and learn about the vast world of information. As schools continue to cut funds for resources such as textbooks and limit stocking school library shelves, the digital age will soon take center stage in the educational world. Teachers need to find a way to incorporate cell phones to benefit their students.