Examples of Plagiarism

• Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Description: Altering someone else's words without giving proper credit to the original source.

Original Source

"No oil spill is entirely harmless. Depending on the timing and location, even a relatively small spill can cause significant harm to individual organisms and entire populations. Oil spills can have impacts over various time frames, from days to years, or even decades for certain spills. The impacts are generally classified as acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) effects. Both types are part of a complex and often controversial process that is addressed after an oil spill: ecosystem recovery."
(2010). Impact of oil spills. Congressional Digest, 89(6):167-192

Plagiarised Source
There is no such thing as a "good" oil spill. Even a small oil spill can cause damage to sensitive ecosystems if the time and place are right. Additionally, spills can have long-term effects, causing harm for days, months, years, or even decades after they occur. As a result, spills are typically categorized as short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) in terms of their effects. It's important to address both types of harm in ecosystem recovery, which is a controversial tactic often implemented immediately following an oil spill.

Solution: Include proper citations when paraphrasing another author.

• Word-for-Word Plagiarism

Description: Copying another person's work exactly without attributing it to the original author.

Original Source
Descartes has been heralded as the first modern philosopher. He is famous for having made an important connection between geometry and algebra, which allowed for the solving of geometrical problems by way of algebraic equations. He is also famous for having promoted a new conception of matter, which allowed for the accounting of physical phenomena by way of mechanical explanations. However, he is most famous for his relatively short work, Meditationes de Prima Philosophia (Meditations On First Philosophy), published in 1641, in which he provides a philosophical groundwork for the possibility of the sciences. (Smith, 2007).
Smith, K. (2007). Descartes' life and work. In The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. retrieved July 12, 2010 

Plagiarised Source
Descartes is well-known as the first modern philosopher who had a big impact on the way people thought about the world. He introduced new ideas about how matter works, which helped explain why things happen in the physical world. He also made an important connection between geometry and algebra, which was a big deal because it allowed people to solve problems using numbers instead of shapes. But the thing most people remember him for is a book he wrote called "Meditations On First Philosophy," where he set out some really important ideas that laid the groundwork for the sciences.

Smith, K. (2007). Descartes' life and work. In The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. retrieved July 12, 2010

Solution: Include proper citations and quotation marks when copying another person's work.

• Patchwork Plagiarism

Description: Combining elements of different sources without proper citation.

Original Sources

Source 1: "The impact of oil spills on ecosystems is significant." (Source 1)

Source 2: "Oil spills can cause long-term damage to marine life." (Source 2)

Source 3: "The effects of oil spills are often divided into acute and chronic impacts." (Source 3)

Plagiarised Source
The impact of oil spills on ecosystems is significant. Oil spills can cause long-term damage to marine life. The effects of oil spills are often divided into acute and chronic impacts.

Solution: Properly cite each source and ensure that the content is not rearranged without permission.

• Self-Plagiarism

Description: Reusing a piece of text from one’s own previously published work without proper citation.

Original Source
No oil spill is entirely benign. Depending on timing and location, even a relatively minor spill can cause significant harm to individual organisms and entire populations. Oil spills can cause impacts over a range of time scales, from days to years, or even decades for certain spills. Impacts are typically divided into acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) effects. Both types are part of a complicated and often controversial equation that is addressed after an oil spill: ecosystem recovery.
(2010). Impact of oil spills. Congressional Digest, 89(6):167-192

Plagiarised Source
No oil spill is entirely benign. Depending on timing and location, even a relatively minor spill can cause significant harm to individual organisms and entire populations. Oil spills can cause impacts over a range of time scales, from days to years, or even decades for certain spills. Impacts are typically divided into acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) effects. Both types are part of a complicated and often controversial equation that is addressed after an oil spill: ecosystem recovery.

Solution: Include proper citations when reusing one’s own previously published work.

Best Practices to Avoid Plagiarism

1. Proper Citation: Always ensure to provide accurate citations and references for any ideas or content that are not your own.
2. Use Quotation Marks: Remember to use quotation marks for direct quotes and to provide the source.
3. Paraphrase Correctly: Paraphrase content correctly, ensuring that the meaning is preserved while using your own words.
4. Avoid Overusing Sources: Limit the use of sources and ensure that your own thoughts and ideas are prominent in your essay.
5. Edit and Proofread: Thoroughly edit and proofread your essay to catch any potential plagiarism issues.