Question

In the case below, the original source material is given along with a sample of student work. Determine the type of plagiarism by clicking the appropriate radio button.
STUDENT VERSION
The possibilities that science suggests often provide the inspiration for science fiction authors. For example, the theory of relativity shows that it is possible to create a time machine that will jump you forward in time has no doubt spurred people to consider the implications that this possibility would have for society.

ORIGINAL VERSION
It is possible to travel to the future. That is, relativity shows that it is possible to create a time machine that will jump you forward in time. You step into the time machine, wait, step out, and find that much more time has passed on the earth than has passed for you. We do not have the technology today to do this, but it is just a matter of engineering: we know it can be done.

Which of the following is true for the Student Version above?

(A) Word-for-Word plagiarism
(B) Paraphrasing plagiarism
(C) This is not plagiarism

Answer 1

Answer:

I believe we have a case of word-for-word plagiarism here.

Explanation:

In paraphrasing plagiarism, the writer takes an idea from another source and summarizes it without mentioning the original author or authors. In word-for-word plagiarism, however, the original text or a section of it is copied - again, without any mention to the original source and authors.

When we analyze the student version and the original version provided in the question, we are able to find that a whole sentence from the original version was copied by the student. Check the sentences in bold below:

STUDENT VERSION

The possibilities that science suggests often provide the inspiration for science fiction authors. For example, the theory of relativity shows that it is possible to create a time machine that will jump you forward in time has no doubt spurred people to consider the implications that this possibility would have for society.

ORIGINAL VERSION

It is possible to travel to the future. That is, relativity shows that it is possible to create a time machine that will jump you forward in time. You step into the time machine, wait, step out, and find that much more time has passed on the earth than has passed for you. We do not have the technology today to do this, but it is just a matter of engineering: we know it can be done.

We have a verbatim copy above (verbatim means "in exactly the same words"). That constitutes a word-for-word plagiarism.