A long, long time ago, when I was knee-high to a grasshopper...
No, that's a different story - and probably one that belongs to someone else.

How to Write a Non-Fiction Paper

It was back in second grade, I think... since we moved away from that school after that.

I put together my first-ever non-fiction book. It was a little thing on birds - one of my pet subjects.

I remember the teacher telling me how to construct a non-fiction piece of writing.

1. Start with a few different books on the subject (at least 3 or 4 was ideal)
2. Write facts on notecards - in your own words. (These cards would also have bibliographical information on them.)
3. Organize the cards into the order you wish to write.
4. Write the paper - in your own words (not paraphrased.)
5. Write the bibliography of all the places you found information for your paper.
6. If you quote something ver batum, you put footnotes or source in the text right then.

Apparently, this is not being taught in today's schools...

Today's Problems...

In several studies reported on by Plagiarism.org, very large numbers of students - even graduate level university students - have admitted to cheating including copying homework, cheating on tests, falsifying bibliographies and simply stealing content from other people.

What is Plagiarism?

Most people understand that copying text word-for-word is not really okay. Sometimes, they will use it as a quote (for short text, this is okay - as long as it's sourced.)

Some other forms of plagiarism include:

• copying words or ideas from someone else and using it as if they were your own.
• not putting quotation marks or other indications that you have borrowed something from someone else.
• having the majority of "your" work coming from someone else (without credit/permission)
• paraphrasing - taking the words and rearranging them - and not giving credit to the source.
  (For more information, check out the Plagiarism.org site.)

Problems on the Blockchains...

Plagiarism has always been a problem - and one that keeps @steemcleaners, @steemflagrewards, @cheetah, @jaguar.force and many others busy.

There are many people on the chains who seem to think that it is okay to take someone else's work, translate it and post it without any reference to the original. There are situations where translation work is acceptable, but references/sources are always required.

People also seem to think it is okay to rely heavily on paraphrasing the texts of others. It is true that plagiarism checkers generally won't catch paraphrasing, because they are designed to catch letter-for-letter copies, not paragraph-for-paragraph rephrasing. Only the human mind can do this efficiently... at least, for now. Yet, according to Plagiarism.org, extensive paraphrasing without permission of the original author is still plagiarism! ANY amount of paraphrasing without referring to the source is plagiarism.

For some reason, the problem does seem to be worse in certain countries. I don't know if it's a lack of education, lack of cultural understanding or just a "me" attitude... (If it's not nailed down, steal it...)

But why does it matter?

• It is theft - pure and simple. To take someone else's work and put your own name on it - expecting to get rewarded for it (whether it's a grade, a book for sale, or valuable upvotes on the blockchains) is stealing from the person who created it.
• It is illegal - in most places on earth, you can get fined or even imprisoned for plagiarizing people's work.
• It is bad for the blockchains - we are trying to show the world what we can do with cryptocurrencies. When others see plagiarism here, it makes the whole platform look bad and reduces the chances of people being willing to invest - and that is the only way any of us are going to make any real money at this long term!
  (How would you feel if someone took your work and passed it off as your own?)

What Can We Do?

1. Set a good example. Even if you are using public domain sources (even the Bible) - EVERYTHING needs to be sourced! That's for writing, images, music, whatever you want to use - if you didn't create it, GIVE CREDIT!!!
2. Let anti-abuse people know when you have found plagiarized material. Give them the original source if you can - it will make the cleaner's job much easier.
3. If you can, flag them, downvote them, report them (as appropriate) - we ALL lose when they plagiarize!

I will share a story my son told me about someone who stole one of his pictures to enter into a competition. Amazingly, the thief actually PAID to enter this other competition! Fortunately, the guy running the competition recognized my son's work and asked him about it - and gave my son the prize for winning a contest he didn't even enter! (A new camera, it turned out to be.)

In the end, the thieves will lose.

For more information on plagiarism, please read this very informative website at Plagiarism.org.

And, by the way... if you're wondering whether you are breaking the plagiarism rules... you probably are.

Fix it, shape up, and credit!!! Or the Cheetah and/or the Jaguar will be visiting you sometime soon.

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Crossposted at Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu, Hyperspace.
Image from Pixabay

This post was written primarily for Steem (but is very applicable anywhere) and in conjunction with the work of @jaguar.force - jaguars do what jaguars do - don't abuse.

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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
find me on Twitter
blogging on: Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu, Hyperspace

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