"Plagiarism"

Sometimes as I'm writing my papers, I have to take a step back. It can be very easy to use the author's words in papers unintentionally. It's for this reason that I double check my work and I try to take notes after I read through sources. When my notes are complete, I try to wait to write my paper. I like what one professor mentioned in the article does--he makes his students wait 30 minutes from reading a source to start writing. To be honest, in this program we don't really have the luxury of time, so I can see where this may not be manageable, although I really like the idea. 

I know that we have been signed up for a Turnitin account here at Ithaca, which I think is a very good way to check for plagiarism. We've been talking about various sources and how hard some people have worked to catalogue or research composers, dates, time periods, definitions, ect. I know that I'm finding out just how rigorous research can be, and I want to make sure that I give credit where it's due.  

"The same technologies that make it easier for students to plagiarize make it easier for faculty to catch it." I found this sentence sparking some questions for me--What are these technologies? How could they work both ways? Interesting.

"Plagiarism Tutorial"

I found that reading through the IC Plagiarism Guide was a good refresher on plagiarism and when it is appropriate to cite sources. I know that I personally forget about citing common knowledge sometimes (I can never remember--to cite or not to cite?!) I also didn't know that if you are presenting the writing at scholarly conference where most people will know the common knowledge, you don't need to cite it. If you are writing a paper for class, it's good to cite the knowledge.

This statement scares me a little:

"Most cases of plagiarism are intentional, but even f you don't deliberately steal from someone else's work, you are answerable for careless thefts." 

I never intentionally plagiarize, but it's important to remember that it doesn't matter--either way I must answer for my work.

"Plagiarism: Maybe it's not So Bad"

Initial reaction before listening--What?! Writers should embrace plagiarism? This guy is cray. 

While listening:

He teaches at Princeton? He encourages plagiarizing? Students need to buy a paper and then present it as if they wrote it? Is this for real? 

Reflections:

Some ideas and quotes that really struck me from this interview include:

Literature is in a rut. 

Originality is a stagnant reality. 

Patchwriting--how he would consider the way we're writing our history papers? perhaps? 

Property didn't mean possession until the 17th century.

Believe it or not, I think I may sort of understand what this poet is trying to say. But, I don't agree with plagiarism. 

If we just take information and don't cite it--we could be totally making it up! Knowledge could become unfounded. This could really tear things apart and turn the world upside down. Think about a doctor using a textbook to learn. What if everything in it was simply made up? 

Don't let Dr. Radice listen to this...