Passing off Another's Ideas

Review the scenario below and Test Your Knowledge.

Scenario
Tina Triton is a senior and works part-time at a coffee shop.  It’s seventh week, and Tina hasn't begun her research paper.  Her roommate tells her about an Internet site where she can buy one. Click, click, enter a credit card number and Tina has a paper.  This is plagiarism, and if caught, could mean a failure in the course or suspension from the university.   Unfortunately, Tina is caught.  Her TA recognized the paper from last year; two other students submitted the same paper.

Practice what you've learned about Passing off Another's Ideas or Work as your Own.  Click your answer.

You've written a research paper for your ethnic studies class. You ask a friend, who is an English major, to review your paper for any grammar and punctuation errors. She goes beyond minor editing and rewrites your paper. If you turn in this rewritten version to your professor, is this plagiarism?

• Yes.

  Correct, because the paper was rewritten by someone else; it is no longer your work.

• No.

  Incorrect, this is a case of plagiarism. It was rewritten by someone else; it is no longer your work. If your friend had kept to minor editing of your paper, then it would not be considered plagiarism.