Training modules/dashboard/slides/11518-responding-to-plagiarism-quiz

Responding to plagiarism quiz

Test yourself!

Imagine you've been editing your article, and someone flags a recent contribution as being plagiarized. Based on your understanding from this and other online trainings about Wikipedia, what should you do?

1. Assume the author has a vendetta. After all, you know you're an honest person — you would never plagiarize! Ignore the Wikipedian, and add the content back. (click to expand or collapse)

   INCORRECT! Remember, plagiarism isn't a statement about you as a person, it's an assessment of the information you've shared. You might have plagiarized on accident. In any case, don't just put it back, as that could be construed as "edit-warring," and you could be banned from editing.
2. Review your contribution, and compare it to the original source. See what's similar, and how you can rephrase it to use less of the original structure or words. Then, add it back in. (click to expand or collapse)

   CORRECT! Wikipedians who flag plagiarism will appreciate your efforts in correcting it, and perhaps give you feedback on the revision.
3. Assume the source is copyrighted and can't be used on Wikipedia. Find a different source that isn't copyrighted. (click to expand or collapse)

   INCORRECT! Much of the material you'll use for a Wikipedia article is likely to have a copyright applied. You can use the same source, but revisit your contribution and see if you can rework it to be less similar to the original source.
4. Delete your Wikipedia account, because you've been blacklisted as a plagiarist. (click to expand or collapse)

   INCORRECT! Importantly, your Wikipedia account can't be easily deleted. But you don't have to flee, or be embarrassed. Instead, look at your contribution, look at the source material, and try to rework it to be less similar. You can work with other Wikipedia editors to solve the problem.

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