Understanding Plagiarism
A Grade 6 ELA worksheet to help students understand what plagiarism is, why it's wrong, and how to avoid it.
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Understanding Plagiarism
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Read the information below about plagiarism, then answer the questions that follow.
What is Plagiarism?
When you write a report or do a project for school, it's important to use your own words and ideas. Plagiarism is when you use someone else's words or ideas and pretend they are your own. It's like copying someone's homework or stealing their toy – it's not fair, and it's not honest. This can happen if you copy text directly from a website, a book, or another person without giving them credit. Even changing a few words around isn't enough; you still need to show where the original idea came from. To avoid plagiarism, always put information you learn from others into your own words, and always tell your reader where you found that information (this is called citing your sources).
1. What is the best definition of plagiarism?
Using your own words and ideas in a report.
Copying someone else's words or ideas and saying they are yours.
Working with a friend on a group project.
Looking up information in a book or on the internet.
2. Changing only a few words from a source is enough to avoid plagiarism.
True
False
3. To avoid plagiarism, you should always put information you learn from others into your own and tell your reader where you found the information, which is called your sources.
4. Explain in your own words why plagiarism is considered unfair or dishonest.
Read the scenario below and decide if it is an example of plagiarism. Explain your reasoning.
Scenario:
Maria is writing a report about dolphins. She finds a great sentence in a book: "Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals known for their playful behavior and complex social structures." Maria writes this exact sentence in her report, but she doesn't mention the book or the author.
Is this plagiarism? (Yes/No):
Explain your reasoning: