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Even if you don't mean to you might plagiarize without even realizing what you are doing is wrong. Below you will find six different types of plagiarism. Many times just understanding what different types of plagiarism are is all it takes to keep you on the scholarly path to success!
This is a tabbed box explaining six different types of plagiarism. Once you have read this first one on "direct plagiarism" click on the tab to the right to check out the next form of plagiarism and watch the short video.
Direct Plagiarism
Copying Someone elses work word for word
This is the most common type of plagiarism and the one that usually comes to mind first when we think of plagiarized work.
Below is a 30 second video with another explanation of Direct Plagiarism from the MacPherson Institute at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada
Self Plagiarism
Reusing Your Own Work As If It Was the First Time
That's right, you can plagiarize yourself! Every piece of scholarly work that you do is supposed to be completely original. If you choose to use work that you have created previously you need to get the express permission from your instructor and cite your work so they know where your old thoughts are and where your original work begins.
Below is a 1 minute 55 second video from Penn State University that goes into a little bit more detail as to the thought process that can get you caught self plagiarizing even if you didn't realize you were about to do just that. Take a look.
Mosaic Plagiarism (aka Patchwriting)
Replacing phrases without attribution or changing synonyms of someone else’s work without attribution
Sometimes this is called "bad paraphrasing". When you paraphrase you can't just take someone's work and rewrite some words here and there, you need to recreate the concept in your words, making it fit the voice of your paper and using it to help make your point.
Below is another video from our friends at McMaser University in Ontario, Canada. Not only will it help you understand what Mosaic Plagiarism is but also how you can avoid it by using a combination of quotation marks and paraphrasing.
Accidental Plagiarism
When Someone Forgets to Attribute, Misquotes a Source or Unintentionally Paraphrases Without Citing the Source
Learning how to cite your work and take accurate notes is an important part of the writing process. Accidentally plagiarizing is just as serious as doing it with intent. In short, you are responsible for every word you put in your paper and you need to keep careful track of all of your research.
Below is short video from Colonial Williamsburg's Center for Teaching, Learning and Leadership that goes into more detail.
Global Plagiarism
Copying an Entire Work and Calling it Your Own
For Example: If you needed to give a speech and you found a perfect one online so you simply used it, word for word and gave no attribution you would be committing global plagiarism.
Below is a one minute video from students in Pocatello, Idaho about a misguided student and global plagiarism.
Deceptive Plagiarism
Citing Non-Existent Sources
This is also called "source based plagiarism" as it involves creating a source for a quote or paraphrased section of a paper the does not exist.
Have you ever heard of "fake news"? We bet you have. When people create fake sources and try and pass them off as legitimate this is another form of deceptive plagiarism. We have a short video on how to spot fake news below, brought to us by factcheck.org (a website we, the librarians, know and trust).
Below is a 1 minute video from Abigail. She is very honest about her plagiarism experience and what she learned from it.
The good folks at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania created this great plagiarism game called "Goblin Threat" to test your knowledge of plagirism scenarios. Hop in for a bit and see if you can spot all the ways that we can plagiarize whether intentionally or otherwise:
