Jess Scoppetta, Writing Center Coordinator shares: As tutors, we sometimes come across what I like to call "accidental plagiarism." It is not intentional or malicious, but plagiarism all the same and will carry the same consequences. Most "accidental plagiarism" is the result of students poorly integrating their source material. Yes, that's right - they are having trouble paraphrasing. When I discover this "accidental plagiarism" in a session, the example below of "good" and "bad" paraphrasing has helped me explain the concept to many a tutee. Hopefully, you will find it useful too!
The following is adapted from The Bedford Guide for College Writers:
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is restating the author’s ideas in your own words. The APA style encourages writers to paraphrase rather than directly quoting source material. A good paraphrase retains the organization, emphasis and details of the original phrasing, but not the language. For example:
Original: "In staging an ancient Greek tragedy today, most directors do not mask the actors.”
Too Close to the Original: Most directors, in staging an ancient Greek play today, do not mask the actors. THIS IS PLAGIARISM!
A Good Paraphrase: Few contemporary directors of Greek tragedy insist that their actors wear masks.
Steps to a Good Paraphrase:
Read the passage several times
Highlight main points and take notes
Put the original text away
Restate the ideas in your own words
Review to ensure your words are not too close to the original.
