Paraphrase, Direct Quote, or Plagiarism ?
Original Source:
Logistic regression was conducted to determine which characteristics of an Easter egg hunt predicted the likelihood
that an egg would be found. The predictors examined were age of hunter (preschool or preteen), length of hunt (5, 15, 30, or
45 minutes) and color of egg (green, yellow, pink, and purple.) All the predictors were statistically significant. The interaction
between hunt duration and age of hunter did not significantly improve prediction.
Controlling for all the predictors, the odds that preschool hunters would find an egg were only .304 of the odds that
preteen hunters would find an egg. For every minute increase in hunt length, the odds that an egg would be found increased
by a factor of 1.027. Green eggs were statistically significantly less likely to be found than purple eggs. The differences in odds
of being found for yellow and pink eggs were not significantly different from the odds that a purple egg would be found.
(Excerpt appears on p. 186.)
Reference
Bear, M. M. (2002). Factors of influence on success in Easter egg hunts. Ursine Journal of Human Behavior, 17(3), 183-187.
Acceptable Paraphrase or Plagiarism?
A. The likelihood that an individual Easter egg will be found is influenced by a combination of factors, including the color of
the egg, the age of the hunter, and the length of the egg hunt.
B. In the article “Factors of Influence on Success in Easter Egg Hunts,” the author reported that egg color was related to
whether or not an egg was found, with green eggs less likely to be found than yellow, pink, or purple eggs.
C. Bear (2002) reported that egg color strongly influenced the probability of an egg being found during an Easter egg hunt,
with green eggs the least likely of all colored eggs to be found.
D. Easter eggs are more likely to be found when the egg hunters are older and the egg hunts last for longer times.
E. Bear (2002) reported that egg color was related to whether an Easter egg was found, with green eggs less likely to be
found than yellow, pink, or purple eggs.
A, B, & D are not acceptable paraphrases because they do not include a citation for the source of this information.
C is an unacceptable paraphrase because it misrepresents the data; all colors of eggs were not tested.
E is an acceptable paraphrase that properly cites the source.
Acceptable Direct Quote, Paraphrase, or Plagiarism?
A. Bear (2002) reported, “All the predictors were statistically significant. The interaction between hunt duration and age of
hunter did not significantly improve prediction” (p. 186).
B.
The importance of considering all possible factors of influence on an outcome was demonstrated in Bear’s study of
Easter egg hunts. Bear (2002, p. 186) reported, “All the predictors were statistically significant. The interaction between
hunt duration and age of hunter did not significantly improve prediction.” Without considering confounding factors, the
true predictors could not be known.
C.
The likelihood that preschool hunt participants would find an egg was only .304 of the odds that preteen hunters would
find an egg. The odds that an egg would be found increased by a factor of 1.027 for every minute increase in hunt length
(Bear, 2002, p. 186).
D. In a study that compared egg hunt results of preschool and preteen children, the preschoolers had less than a 33%
chance (.304 odds) of finding an Easter egg than a preteen (Bear, 2002). Bear also found that even though the likelihood
of any egg being found increased in proportion to the length of the egg hunt (1.027/minute increase), there was no
relationship between child age and length of hunt (Bear, p. 186).
E.
“Controlling for all the predictors, the odds that preschool hunters would find an egg were only .304 of the odds that
preteen hunters would find an egg. For every minute increase in hunt length, the odds that an egg would be found
increased by a factor of 1.027” (Bear, 2002, p. 186).
A – Properly cited direct quote.
B – Better use of properly cited direct quote that integrates the quote into the paper’s argument.
C – Unacceptable paraphrase because too much of the source’s language is duplicated.
D – Acceptable paraphrase. APA manual allows use of page numbers with paraphrases, but this format is rarely used.
Rev. 5/11/16
Worksheet adapted from www.son.rochester.edu/student-resources/plagiarism-examples.html#1
Original Source:
An ancient Celtic belief about mourning promised a reward to those who faithfully followed certain behaviors
during the first year after the loss of a loved one. According to this legend, if a person visited a loved one’s grave
every day, then on the first anniversary of the loved one’s death, the deceased would arise from the grave to
thank the visitor. The influence of this legend continues to permeate today’s society, as evidenced by the way
many people act during the first year of bereavement. These mourners behave as though honoring their lost one
in specific ways (e.g., denying access to a favorite food or taking part in pleasurable activities) will somehow
benefit themselves or the deceased. However, the day after the first anniversary, these mourners are surprised to
discover their loved one is still dead and their sadness is unabated. Many feel their faithfulness has been
betrayed, and their loss of hope seems to deepen the extent of their grief. Despite the passage of time, these
mourners are unable to resurrect happy memories of the loved one without bringing forth the sharp pain of loss.
Reference
Peep, B. (2005). Lessons learned from loss. Celtic Traditions in America, 42(2), 212-231.
Acceptable Paraphrase or Plagiarism?
A. According to Peep (2005), persons in the first year of bereavement might participate in rituals with the expectation that
their efforts will resolve their grief on the first anniversary of their loss.
B. Some people may try to cope with bereavement through magical thinking (i.e., attribution of causal relationship
between actions and events that cannot be justified by reason or observation) such as the expectation that following a
rigid set of behaviors for a prescribed period will provide relief from the negative emotions of grief (Peep, 2005).
C. During the first year of bereavement, mourners may adopt a set pattern of behavior that not only shows an expectation
of being magically pardoned from their grief after a year of mourning but also demonstrates the bargaining stage of
Kübler-Ross’s (1972) stages of death and dying.
References
Kübler-Ross, E. (1972). On death and dying. New York: Macmillan
Peep, B. (2005). Lessons learned from loss. Celtic Traditions in America, 42(2), 212-231.
A – Acceptable paraphrase, properly cited
B- Acceptable paraphrase, properly cited
C- Plagiarism – Kübler-Ross is properly cited but there is no citation for the ideas from Peep.
Examples of Acceptable Common Knowledge:
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The sky is blue.
The human hand has four fingers and a thumb.
Knowledge of anatomy and physiology is essential for nursing students.
The social work profession seeks to ensure the well-being of the most vulnerable among the population.
Wide access to computers and the Internet have brought rapid social changes around the globe.
Exception to the exception:
Meditation on Arachnophobia
by L. M. Muffet
The sky is blue. Like my thoughts, no cloud appears.
Tranquil and steadfast, I sit beside the spider and know
The wonder of its many legs. I have mastered fear.
Acceptable: Muffett’s (2007) declaration that “the sky is blue” (p. 271) sets the metaphor for her assertion that mastery of
fear leads to mental clarity.
Reference
Muffett, L. M. (2007). Meditation on arachnophobia. In F. Grimm & T. Grimmer (Eds.), Collected poems for couch potatoes (p.
271). Auckland, New Zealand: Sheepish Press.
Rev. 5/11/16
Worksheet adapted from www.son.rochester.edu/student-resources/plagiarism-examples.html#1