Plagiarism or not?

[Pooh Girl 71]

On the subject of plagiarism, I learned recently that in academia, you can be castigated for plagiarizing yourself.

Say a university freshman writes a paper for History 101, discussing the Soviet Union's austere architecture as a visual extension of communism. A year later, the now-sophomore writes a paper for Architecture 202, discussing the Soviet Union's austere architecture as a visual extension of communism. She copies herself word-for-word, for several paragraphs. If she doesn't cite herself, it's considered plagiarism.

I learned this the hard way in a class I had to repeat.

 

[CarolAnn856]

I got a pamphlet in church on Sunday. In the preface, it says, adapted from with permission...and the name of another church. Also, credit was given to the member of our church committee for his work adapting it to us.

As a former English teacher/community college instructor, I was curious, so I Googled the other church and found the original document. The only changes were the name of their church was replaced by the name of our church, and a couple minor editorial changes here and there. No real context changes.

From an academic perspective, this really bothers me because someone took a lot of time to create the original pamphlet. If a student had submitted something like this, I would have called it out. But this isn't an academic setting.

It was not sold. There was no money exchanged for this by either church. It's intellectual property at most.

That's my vent. I'm curious what others think.

Of course this isn't plagiarism. Your church got permission. That's all that needs to happen.

I was a church warden for 4 years. I also have a full time job and a family. When I prepared anything for the church I googled and used tons of stuff I found online. A good part of those years we were without a permanent rector so I did what I had to.

I don't believe in reinventing the wheel, particularly for volunteer work. Had it have been a paying job that would have impacted my career I might have thought differently.

I got no benefit out of what I was doing so I don't look at it as plagiarizing. Obviously others might think differently.

It isn't a matter of opinion. That's plagiarism. Whether you had a rector or were a volunteer or were busy with your family or didn't get any benefit has absolutely no bearing. You can try to rationalize it all you want, but the fact is, if you used others' work without giving them credit, you plagiarized.

 

[Southernmiss]

Curious, what was the topic of the pamphlet?

 

[Wendy31]

On the subject of plagiarism, I learned recently that in academia, you can be castigated for plagiarizing yourself.

Say a university freshman writes a paper for History 101, discussing the Soviet Union's austere architecture as a visual extension of communism. A year later, the now-sophomore writes a paper for Architecture 202, discussing the Soviet Union's austere architecture as a visual extension of communism. She copies herself word-for-word, for several paragraphs. If she doesn't cite herself, it's considered plagiarism.

Ha!

In college (eons ago), I once wrote a persuasive paper on the dangers of secondhand cigarette smoke titled "Your Smoke... Not Your Body" for my Comp 1 class in my freshman year. A year later, in my Environmental Science class, I used the exact same paper & just changed the MLA format to APA format. I turned the paper into a speech for my Speech class that same year. And, as a junior, I used the paper again in my Intermediate Comp & Rhetoric class. And then my sister used all my research & outline for one of her papers.

I have been plagiarized before w/ what I would consider to be intellectual property, & I was irked.

I also used to write skits. After one of my skits was performed, someone asked me for a copy. At the time, I didn't have any kind of "copyright" statement, but I still let the person have a copy. She took the copy to another organization in another state. I assume my skit is still floating around somewhere.

After that, I started putting some kind of copyright statement on anything I wrote. Over 10 years ago, I wrote a skit for an elementary school teacher who needed a skit for her class; she used the skit in her class every year. She retired this year, & I don't know if she left the skit for the teacher replacing her or not. Hopefully, if she did, my name is still on it.

I was a church secretary for several years as well, & 1 of my duties was to prepare the weekly bulletin. I often included bits of poems or songs & other quotes, but I always credited the author.

Regarding the OP, since there was an "used w/ permission from ___________" statement, I would not consider that to be plagiarism. Credit was given, & the church is not claiming authorship of the material. I actually commend the church for including the statement because I'm sure a lot of written material that churches use for bulletins & other printed items is not original & is not credited.

 

[Poohforyou]

Of course this isn't plagiarism. Your church got permission. That's all that needs to happen.



It isn't a matter of opinion. That's plagiarism. Whether you had a rector or were a volunteer or were busy with your family or didn't get any benefit has absolutely no bearing. You can try to rationalize it all you want, but the fact is, if you used others' work without giving them credit, you plagiarized.

Oh well.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Curious, what was the topic of the pamphlet?

Plagiarism.

 

[disney junky]

The pamphlet was a series of 40 days of devotionals in support of a capital campaign to build a building. Apparently the other church which is not here in the same community had a capital campaign to build last year.

 

[DisneyOma]

I was a church warden for 4 years. I also have a full time job and a family. When I prepared anything for the church I googled and used tons of stuff I found online. A good part of those years we were without a permanent rector so I did what I had to.

I don't believe in reinventing the wheel, particularly for volunteer work. Had it have been a paying job that would have impacted my career I might have thought differently.

I got no benefit out of what I was doing so I don't look at it as plagiarizing. Obviously others might think differently.

Think of it this way - all the people that experienced the information you presented had no idea where it came from - so they either thought you came up with it yourself, which is a lie, or they had no way to follow through and check on the validity of the sources, which is a shame.

 

[Disney_traveler]

I've thought of something...... I was told if you do any research or create any documents (assignments or curricula plans or whatever) it all belongs to the school you were working for when it was made, NOT you.

 

[DopeyDame]

I've thought of something...... I was told if you do any research or create any documents (assignments or curricula plans or whatever) it all belongs to the school you were working for when it was made, NOT you.

That's pretty standard in any professional setting where you are being paid to do the work (ie, curricula plans). I don't think that's true of the work you do *as a student* since the school isn't paying you for your time and effort.

 

[pryncess527]

I've thought of something...... I was told if you do any research or create any documents (assignments or curricula plans or whatever) it all belongs to the school you were working for when it was made, NOT you.

Yes, typically speaking anyone engaging in paid research for a University, or enrolled a a graduate program (which typically involves paid employment and/or stipend) will sign a document acknowledging that research belongs to the University.

 

[Disney_traveler]

Yes, typically speaking anyone engaging in paid research for a University, or enrolled a a graduate program (which typically involves paid employment and/or stipend) will sign a document acknowledging that research belongs to the University.

No it was graduate research project and I received no money from it. I was talking about the high school I was working at when I got my masters, that also didn't pay me or compensate me in any way for research, schooling or degree.

 

[DopeyDame]

No it was graduate research project and I received no money from it. I was talking about the high school I was working at when I got my masters, that also didn't pay me or compensate me in any way for research, schooling or degree.

I'm confused - if you were working there you were compensated right?

 

[Disney_traveler]

I'm confused - if you were working there you were compensated right?

No I wasn't working at the university the research was for. I was working as a teacher at a high school and doing my masters degree at a local university. Instead of a thesis the degree required a graduate research project.

 

[pryncess527]

No I wasn't working at the university the research was for. I was working as a teacher at a high school and doing my masters degree at a local university. Instead of a thesis the degree required a graduate research project.

But you were a graduate student at the University, right?

 

[Disney_traveler]

But you were a graduate student at the University, right?

Yes, but I am not talking about the university owning the research, I am talking about the HIGH SCHOOL.

 

[pryncess527]

Yes, but I am not talking about the university owning the research, I am talking about the HIGH SCHOOL.

Interesting. i'd expect the University to take issue with that :lol Perhaps they had some agreement worked out with the school system. Graduate students never own what they do, it's one reason many famous people quit school before making/releasing their big thing.