Teach yourself to avoid plagiarism in scientific writing

Following multi choice questions are formulated to help you understand how to write a scientific report using quotes, figures from other sources without plagiarising.

In the cases below, the original source materials areas given along with a sample of student works. Determine whether the student work can be considered as plagiarism. Then answer the question below by clicking the appropriate button.

Dr. S. D. Sivasubramaniam

Use of verbatim quotes

Original Source Material

Pre-eclampsia is treated with antihypertensive drugs to prevent maternal complications of high blood pressure. However, the intricate balance between lowering maternal blood pressure while not compromising foetal circulation complicates administration of antihypertensive drugs to pre-eclamptic patients. Ketanserin is one of the few drugs, licensed for treatment of pre-eclampsia in the Netherlands and its use has increased in the past years.

[Article quoted from: Hanf, LM (2006) Insufficient efficacy of intravenous ketanserin in severe early-onset pre-eclampsia]

Sample of Student Written Work

The intricate balance between lowering maternal blood pressure while not compromising foetal circulation complicates administration of antihypertensive drugs to pre-eclamptic patients.

Compare the student work with the original source and decide whether the student has plagiarised.

Please select an answer and see whether your conception about avoiding plagiarism is right!

	a)	No.
	b)	Yes, because it quotes actual words, either oral or written from another source. Also it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	c)	Yes, because it paraphrases words (oral or written) from another source. Also it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	d)	Yes, because it uses ideas, opinions, or theories from another person (or source); and it is not properly acknowledged.
	e)	Yes, because it borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge; and it is not properly acknowledged.
Please select an answerNo! This is not the right answer. Please chose another response. Well done! You are right. This is plagiarism. The student did not put quotation marks around the text, and so it appears that the text is words the student wrote. Also, there is no acknowledgement of the original source adjacent to plagiarised text No! This is not the right answer. Please chose another response.No! This is not the right answer. Please chose another response.No! This is not the right answer. Please chose another response.

Use of verbatim quotes - 2

Original Source Material

[Article quoted from: Hanf, LM (2006) Insufficient efficacy of intravenous ketanserin in severe early-onset pre-eclampsia]

Sample of Student Written Work

Hanff et al (2006) believes that "... the intricate balance between lowering maternal blood pressure while not compromising foetal circulation complicates administration of antihypertensive drugs to pre-eclamptic patients." (p. 198).

Bibliography:

Hanff LM, Visser C, and Vulto W (2006) Insufficient efficacy of intravenous ketanserin in severe early-onset pre-eclampsia European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology, 128 (1-2) 199-203.

Compare the student work with the original source and decide whether the student has plagiarised.

Please select an answer and see whether your conception about avoiding plagiarism is right!

	a)	No
	b)	Yes, because it quotes actual words, either oral or written from another source. Also it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	c)	Yes, because it paraphrases words (oral or written) from another source. Also it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	d)	Yes, because it uses ideas, opinions, or theories from another person (or source); and it is not properly acknowledged.
	e)	Yes, because it borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge; and it is not properly acknowledged.
Please select an answer Well done! You are right. This is not plagiarism. Quotation marks surround the quoted text; the source is clearly identified in the student's writing; and a full bibliographic citation is provided in the reference section. No! This is not the right answer. Please choose another response.No! This is not the right answer. Please chose another response.No! This is not the right answer. Please chose another response.No! This is not the right answer. Please chose another response.

Use of verbatim quotes - 3

Original Source Material

Pre-eclampsia is treated with antihypertensive drugs to prevent maternal complications of high blood pressure. However, the intricate balance between lowering maternal blood pressure while not compromising foetal circulation complicates administration of antihypertensive drugs to pre-eclamptic patients. Ketanserin is one of the few drugs, licensed for treatment of pre-eclampsia in the Netherlands and its use has increased in the past years.

[Articles quoted from: Hanf, LM (2006) Insufficient efficacy of intravenous ketanserin in severe early-onset pre-eclampsia]

Sample of Student Written Work

Hanff et al (2006) believes that the intricate balance between lowering maternal blood pressure while not compromising foetal circulation complicates administration of antihypertensive drugs to pre-eclamptic patients.

Bibliography:

Compare the student work with the original source and decide whether the student has plagiarised.

Please select an answer and see whether your conception about avoiding plagiarism is right!

	a)	No
	b)	Yes, because it quotes another person's actual words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	c)	Yes, because it paraphrases another person's words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	d)	Yes, because it uses another person's idea, opinion, or theory; and it is not properly acknowledged.
	e)	Yes, Although it looks like paraphrases of original words in actual fact, it is a verbatim quote.
Please select an answerNo, this is not the right answer. Please chose another responseNo, this is not the right answer. Please chose another responseNo, this is not the right answer. Please chose another responseNo, this is not the right answer. Please chose another response Well done! You are right. This is plagiarism. Quotation marks are omitted from the quoted text. It looks like the writer was paraphrasing the original author, but is a direct quote. Even though a full bibliographic citation is provided in the references, the author's words are used as if they are the student's own.

Verbatim quote 4

Original Source Material

[Article quoted from: Hanf, LM (2006) Insufficient efficacy of intravenous ketanserin in severe early-onset pre-eclampsia]

Sample of Student Written Work

Hanff et al (2006) believes that the perfect drug for treating pre-eclampsia should reduce the maternal blood pressure without compromising foetal circulation.

Bibliography:

Compare the student work with the original source and decide whether the student has plagiarised.

Please select an answer and see whether your conception about avoiding plagiarism is right!

	a)	No
	b)	Yes, because it quotes another person's actual words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	c)	Yes, because it paraphrases another person's words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	d)	Yes, because it uses another person's idea, opinion, or theory; and it is not properly acknowledged.
	e)	Yes, because it borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge; and it is not properly acknowledged.
Please select an answer Well done! You are right. This is not plagiarism. The writer was paraphrasing the original author. It is not a direct quotation. So quotation marks are not needed. Proper acknowledgement is given in the students writing, and a full bibliographic citation is provided in the reference section. No!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another response

Verbatim quote - 5

Original Source Material

Pre-eclampsia is treated with antihypertensive drugs to prevent maternal complications of high blood pressure. However, the intricate balance between lowering maternal blood pressure while not compromising foetal circulation complicates administration of antihypertensive drugs to pre-eclamptic patients. Ketanserin is one of the few drugs, licensed for treatment of pre-eclampsia in the Netherlands and its use has increased in the past years.

[Article quoted from: Hanf, LM (2006) Insufficient efficacy of intravenous ketanserin in severe early-onset pre-eclampsia]

Sample of Student Written Work

The perfect drug for treating pre-eclampsia should reduce the maternal blood pressure without compromising foetal circulation.

Bibliography:

Compare the student work with the original source and decide whether the student has plagiarised.

Please select an answer and see whether your conception about avoiding plagiarism is right!

	a)	No
	b)	Yes, because it quotes another person's actual words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	c)	Yes, because it paraphrases another person's words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	d)	Yes, because it uses another person's idea, opinion, or theory; and it is not properly acknowledged.
	e)	Yes, because it borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge; and it is not properly acknowledged.
Please select an answerNo! Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo! Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseWell done, you are right. The writer is not paraphrasing the original author. However he used the information without acknowledging the original author after the phrase (in-text referencing is missing) (although he has given the reference in the bibliography).No!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another response

Verbatim quote - 6

Original Source Material

Pre-eclampsia is treated with antihypertensive drugs to prevent maternal complications of high blood pressure. However, the intricate balance between lowering maternal blood pressure while not compromising foetal circulation complicates administration of antihypertensive drugs to pre-eclamptic patients. Ketanserin is one of the few drugs, licensed for treatment of pre-eclampsia in the Netherlands and its use has increased in the past years.

[Quoted from: Hanf, LM (2006) Insufficient efficacy of intravenous ketanserin in severe early-onset pre-eclampsia]

Sample of Student Written Work

Ketanserin is the drug licensed to treat pre-eclampsia in the Netherlands.

Bibliography:

Compare the student work with the original source and decide whether the student has plagiarised.

Please select an answer and see whether your conception about avoiding plagiarism is right!

	a)	No
	b)	Yes, because it quotes another person's actual words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	c)	Yes, because it paraphrases another person's words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	d)	Yes, because it uses another person's idea, opinion, or theory; and it is not properly acknowledged.
	e)	Yes, because it borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge; and it is not properly acknowledged.
Please select an answerNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseWell done!, because it is more or less "patchwork". That is the student borrowed facts from another source and rewrote by changing one or two words or simply rearranging the order, voice. Also the information is not considered as common knowledge and it is not properly acknowledged.

Using figures and Tables - 1

Original article

Mature human placenta is dissocial shape. It has an approximate diameter of 20cm and thickness of 3cm. Placenta weighs around 500g to 600g. In a matured placenta intervillious space contains about 150ml of blood. The human placenta has both maternal and foetal regions. However, the major contribution is made from the foetal side. The maternal part (Decidua Basilis) develops from the endometrium of the uterus while the foetal side develops from the chorionic sac. Foetal circulation is closed within the chorionic villi which are bathed by maternal blood in the intervillious space (between villi) (see figure). Therefore maternal and foetal blood never comes in contact during the gestation period.

[Article quoted from: Muralitharan (2007) - MSc thesis] [The figure obtained from http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/]

Sample of Student Written Work

At the time of delivery human placenta is discoidal shaped with a diameter of 20cm and the thickness of 3 cm

Compare the student work with the original source and decide whether the student has plagiarised.

Please select an answer and see whether your conception about avoiding plagiarism is right!

	a)	No
	b)	Yes, because it quotes another person's actual words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	c)	Yes, because it paraphrases another person's words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	d)	Yes, because it uses another person's idea, opinion, or theory; and it is not properly acknowledged.
	e)	Yes, because it borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge; and it is not properly acknowledged.
Please select an answerNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another response Well done! You have selected the right answer. This is plagiarism. It is common knowledge that placenta is a discoid shaped organ an approximate diameter of 20cm and thickness of 3cm. The text is not plagiarised. However the picture of placenta was copied from South West University online website and no proper acknowledge was given.

Using Figures and Tables - 2

Original Source Material

Mature human placenta is discoidal shape. It has an approximate diameter of 20cm and thickness of 3cm. Placenta weighs around 500g to 600g. In a matured placenta intervillious space contains about 150ml of blood. The human placenta has both maternal and foetal regions. However, the major contribution is made from the foetal side.

[Quoted from: Muralitharan (2007) - MSc thesis] [The figure obtained from http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/]

Sample of student written work

At the time of delivery human placenta is discoidal shaped with a diameter of 20cm and the thickness of 3 cm (see figure)

(Figure was adapted from http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/

Bibliography:

Web pages of Southwest university - http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/ (accessed on 17th July 2008)

Compare the student work with the original source and decide whether the student has plagiarised.

Please select an answer and see whether your conception about avoiding plagiarism is right!

	a)	No
	b)	Yes, because it quotes another person's actual words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	c)	Yes, because it paraphrases another person's words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	d)	Yes, because it uses another person's idea, opinion, or theory; and it is not properly acknowledged.
	e)	Yes, because it borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge; and it is not properly acknowledged.
Please select an answer Well done! You have selected the right answer. This is not plagiarism. It is common knowledge that placenta is a discoid shaped organ an approximate diameter of 20cm and thickness of 3cm. The text is not plagiarised. The student has properly acknowledged the source of the figure in bibliography. No!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another responseNo!, Your answer is wrong. Please select another response

Use of figures and tables - 3

Original Source Material

During early weeks of pregnancy, the trophoblastic cells proliferate and surround the embryo. Extravillous trophoblastic cells penetrate the maternal spiral arteries and eventually transform these arteries to increased vessel diameter and capacitance (see figure). The major contribution is made from the foetal side. During early development, the extravillous trophoblast cells invade maternal decidua in a "low oxygen environment" (Burton and Jauniaux, 2004).

[Quoted from: Cindrova-Davies T, Yung HW, Johns J, Spasic-Boskovic O, Korolchuk S, Jauniaux E, Burton GJ, Charnock-Jones DS. (2007) Oxidative stress, gene expression, and protein changes induced in the human placenta during labor.Am J Pathol.171(4):1168-79.)

[The figure obtained from http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/]

Sample of Student Written Work

Early stages of placental deployment take place in 'low oxygen environment'. At the time of delivery human placenta is discoidal shaped with a diameter of 20cm and the thickness of 3 cm (see figure)

(Figure was adapted from http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/.

Bibliography:

Web pages of Southwest university - http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/ (accessed on 17th July 2008)

Compare the student work with the original source and decide whether the student has plagiarised.

Please select an answer and see whether your conception about avoiding plagiarism is right!

	a)	No
	b)	Yes, because it quotes another person's actual words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	c)	Yes, because it paraphrases another person's words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	d)	Yes, because it uses another person's idea, opinion, or theory; and it is not properly acknowledged.
	e)	Yes, because it borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge; and it is not properly acknowledged.
Please select an answerNo! Your answer is wrong. Please select another response.No! Your answer is wrong. Please select another response. Well done! You have selected the right answer. This is plagiarism. Although it is common knowledge that placenta is a discoid shaped organ an approximate diameter of 20cm and thickness of 3cm, the phrase "low oxygen environment" is a typical term used by the Burton and Jauniaux (2006). The student failed to acknowledge this. Since Burton and Jauniaux (2006) was the primary source and the student got this information from the secondary source (i.e from Cindrova-Davies et al, 2007), he should have referenced both articles in bibliography as well as within text (e.g. Cindrova-Davies et al, 2007; See also Burton and Jauniaux 2006) No! Your answer is wrong. Please select another response.No! Your answer is wrong. Please select another response.

Use of general figures

Original Source Material

As can be seen in the diagram, any drug would have both desired and undesired effects. The success of any therapeutic regimen is depended on maximising the desired effects with minimal side effects. This window of success is called "therapeutic window".

[Article quoted from: Rowland M and Tozer A (1997) Clinical Pharmacokinetics - Concepts and applications (eds) Lea and Fabiger Walker and Wilkins Publications (3rd edition)

[The figure obtained from http:// http://images.google.co.uk/imgres

Sample of Student Written work

The term therapeutic window is an area of the dose-response curve between desired and undesired effects. Clinicians should take this into account in any drug therapy, if they want success (see figure).

Compare the student work with the original source and decide whether the student has plagiarised.

Please select an answer and see whether your conception about avoiding plagiarism is right!

	a)	No.
	b)	Yes, because it quotes another person's actual words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	c)	Yes, because it paraphrases another person's words, either oral or written; and it is not appropriately acknowledged.
	d)	Yes, because it uses another person's idea, opinion, or theory; and it is not properly acknowledged.
	e)	Yes, because it borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge; and it is not properly acknowledged.
Please select an answer Well done! Your answer is correct. This is not plagiarism. Both the text about therapeutic window and the figure of Dose-response curve are considered as common knowledge. Since the author has used his own words to explain the concept, there is no need for bibliographic citation. No! Your answer is not correct. Please select another response.No! Your answer is not correct. Please select another response.No! Your answer is not correct. Please select another response.No! Your answer is not correct. Please select another response.

Teach yourself to avoid plagiarism in scientific writing

Table of Contents