The punishable perils of plagiarism - Melissa Huseman D'Annunzio

Fighting plagiarism is serious business. From brainchild-snatching to wholly quotables, plagiarists have plenty of wily ways to pass others' work off as their own -- and all of them are threats to original thinking. Melissa Huseman D'Annunzio imagines what would happen if a Department of Plagiarism Investigation were on the case.

Lesson by Melissa Huseman D'Annunzio, animation by Hache Rodriguez.

[Firesoar]

I once got a 37% on an assignment for creative writing. I hadn't even looked for inspiration, I just started writing in my notebook during class and Turn It In found a similarity in my writing style to something that had already been published.

[ryansmore]

Plagiarism is bad? doesnt sound like an original idea to me.

[oz_the_archivist]

this video has the same energy as those anti-drug presentations that just teach you different methods people use to take drugs then just say at the end to not do it

[muffinproject]

So... I've learned what kind of tricks to use to plagiarize. But no reason as to WHY it's bad, and why I should avoid doing it (aside "it is bad and you will be punished"). Thanks, TED!

[tompenno]

Everything is a remix, nothing is completely original.

[thedashaw]

I don't understand the concept of "self plagiarizing"

[danielj]

Okay, this video is not the best lesson on TED-Ed. I feel like it tells us what is plagiarism (everything that isn't 100% your idea, so..everything? even your ideas from past!) and that it should be punished. It doesn't really tell us how to avoid plagiarism and leaves us feeling hopeless. Do another lesson on plagiarism. One that would actually educate.

[ryanmurray]

This comment avoids definite articles, as they are owned entirely by previous authors.

[ModdedTalent]

I think plagiarizing yourself should be non-existent. If I come up with an idea for my first paper, and use that idea for my second paper, can u really accuse me of plagarizing if I don't source it? Am I "stealing" my own idea? That doesn't seem possible, and while it doesn't take much time to cite yourself, it seems like a waste of time to charge someone who used their own idea anyway but without reference.

[jim]

Plagiarism, also known as standing on the shoulders of giants.  My only complaint about this video would have to be the ending.  The statement about doing your own work being easier, I'd have to disagree.  It is easier to plagiarize in the short term.  Instead, my reasoning for not plagiarizing is, simply put, the self rewards and self feelings of accomplishment.  Think of writing a paper like building a house.  When I've done my own work, man it feels great personally.  Then when I get great reviews, I sometimes go on an ego trip, lol!  Can't do that with plagiarized work.  I sometimes even send my papers to friends, family, and even other classmates just to see what they have to say.  Each time I get props, my head swells even bigger.  I try to be tactful when going on my ego trip though, I'm not completely classless. 

[perisaizidanehanapi]

I don't think people in the comment section really understand what plagiarism is or how it works.

If you cite the source and put them in your reference list, then it's NOT plagiarism.

If you just form a conclusion from your own opinion, then check again. Someone might've already come to that conclusion long before you and you HAVE to cite them.

If an opinion genuinely comes from you and you really don't seem to see any other paper that elaborate it as such, then you DON'T have to cite.

Seriously, there is no such thing as too much citations. You can avoid making a whilly quotable document (2:00) by trying to tie in many ideas from different sources with your own analysis and opinions to form a comprehensive paragraph, therefor building your own narative.

If you make something with your own effort, then you deserve to be credited for your work. Same as everybody else. Don't be lazy.

To further avoid plagiarism detection machine, you can simply paraphrase the quote you cited (while still citing the source). It's that simple, really.

[bryanworobec]

From most of the posts here, I think I see the problem - most people believe that you can't produce new ideas because they've all been produced or used. The point here is that at least SOME ideas in an academic paper, text, or project must be your OWN interpretation. As a teacher, I know that we see increasing numbers of cut and paste jobs done by students who use most of the techniques used in this video. I'm showing this to each of my classes next semester.

[cheeseisgreat]

90% of college papers I have ever peer edited are plagiarized? Nice.

[cyberbadger]

The current higher level education systems around the world end up pushing a lot of Masters or PhD candidate to plagiarise to get their degree. Do you think every PhD or Masters candidate can "think of a new idea" for their thesis or dissertation? The ones who don't plagiarise but can't think of a new idea end up making their thesis or dissertation so convoluted to make it appear as if they have a new idea. The higher education system is broken and needs repair.

[kscgcdm]

I don't get the "wholly quotable" part of this video. How is a young student ( I work with kids through middle school) supposed to come up with his own information about something he knows nothing about? Everything is new to him. He might make a value statement about the actions of a historic figure, for instance, and that might be his own while all the facts and information were compiled by others. I suppose if the paper lacks cohesiveness, stating and citing random, loosely put together factoids about some topic or person, it might be a badly written paper, but plagiarism?

[victorps]

What if every person in the world was still in school ( High school/ College) How are you certain that not one will plagiarize? Plagiarism is like racism. It cannot be stopped.

[kaycee]

So if I made this comment consist of nothing but, for example:
"Good artists copy. Great artists steal." - Pablo Picasso
Then that would be plagiarism? Really?!
And what if you're a critic? Your work is almost entirely based on others' works with quotes galore. Is that "legitimate plagiarism"? What's the difference?
I remember being told in English that all works of fiction have one of 7 storylines, ergo all fiction is plagiarism based on what was said in this vid. That HAS to be bullshit!

[pedroperez]

"you might be wondering why you've never heard of the department of plagiarism" oh my god its the secret police.

[plcthelegacy]

I bet the Internet historian would have liked to have seen this video awhile ago.

[dave]

Soo...? Why do we teach our kids other people's ideas in order for them to use those ideas? Why not let them figure it all out by their selves and start from scratch?