Response to " Don't Plagiarize, it's a crime!"

Basically, the student copied from the source word for word. Even though, every once in awhile, the student changed a word, it is pretty clear that the student copied the words and ideas from the original source. The student should have either summarized, paraphrased or quoted the other person’s work and included proper citation to the source.  Something like:

One writer suggests that “Starry Night” is so popular because although it is a wild looking painting it contains familiar and comfortable images of the sky, clouds, stars, moon and a small town with a church and steeple. (“A Brief Understanding of the Starry Night Paintings”).       

A student can avoid plagiarizing by first understanding what plagiarism is: plagiarism is using someone else’s words and ideas without citation and passing it off as his own original work.  Second, if the student does not understand the material/assignment well enough to come up with his own idea and use his own words, the student should look at multiple sources.  Looking at multiple sources will usually make it easier to understand the material, gain different perspectives and spark ideas.  The student will then be able to write about the material in his own words. Third, the student should think about the topic, plan his thesis, use his own words to make his point and then either quote, summarize or paraphrase from anther person’s work correctly citing the source. The citation ensures that readers know which work is the student’s and which work is somebody else’s. This not only eliminates the plagiarism but also makes the student’s writing more persuasive because readers can see that the student’s argument is supported by other writers who have looked at the same issue/material.