Why Plagiarism Matters (Gain Attention)

Have you worked hours on a paper, or can you imagine doing so, only to fail because you are missing citation?
❌ This could happen to you!

Plagiarism = using someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper credit.

Everyone Marks Their Work

Creators use symbols and licenses to show ownership and how their work can be used:

  • © Copyright → Protects books, articles, music, films
  • ™ Trademark → Protects slogans and brands
  • ® Registered Trademark → Legally registered brand ownership
  • CC-BY-SA (Creative Commons) → Allows sharing/adaptation with proper attribution

CC

Overview

The goal of this workshop is to help you master the skills needed to create professional research papers using correct APA citation and reference standards. Through real-world plagiarism case studies, hands-on citation workshops, and collaborative group activities, you will learn to identify, correct, and properly format references. The process culminates in an assessment and certification of your citation skills.

flowchart TD
    A[Activation - Plagiarism case studies] --> B[Demonstration - APA Citation Workshop]
    B --> C[Practice - Correcting errors]
    C --> D[Application - Small Groups and Feedback]
    D --> E[Assessment - Mastery & Certification]
    E --> F[Integration - Summary]

Plagiarism Case Studies (Activation)

This section is designed to help instructors and lesson designers visualize ways to activate student learning by connecting plagiarism to real people, large financial consequences, and social issues. The goal is to keep this lo-fi and open-ended, encouraging creative approaches for future development.

  • Purpose:
    • Relate plagiarism to significant figures, money, and social impact.
    • Spark student curiosity and discussion about why plagiarism matters.
    • Provide a flexible, low-fidelity storyboard for lesson prototyping.

Storyboard Prototype Placeholders

  • Text:
    • Short, impactful case descriptions (e.g., who was involved, what happened, what was at stake).
    • Simple guiding questions (e.g., “What could have been done differently? Why does this matter?”).
  • Visuals:
    • Placeholder images for each case (e.g., author photos, book covers, news headlines).
    • Simple icons to represent money, legal action, or public attention.
  • Audio:
    • Placeholder for brief audio clips (e.g., news soundbite, instructor summary).
  • Interactions:
    • Clickable or hoverable elements to reveal more details or discussion prompts.
    • Option for students to vote or comment on which case they find most surprising or important.

Here are some landmark cases (examples for prototyping):

Roots, Literary Plagiarism in an Acclaimed Novel
Haley v. Courlander (1978). Author Alex Haley was sued by Harold Courlander for plagiarizing passages in his novel Roots from Courlander’s earlier novel The African. The case was settled out of court for $650,000 (over $2 million in today’s currency), and Haley issued a statement acknowledging the use of Courlander’s work. Reference: Haley v. Courlander, 84 F.R.D. 366 (S.D.N.Y. 1978).
Alex Haley – BlackPast Alex Haley image from BlackPast.org, CC BY-SA 4.0

George Harrison, Musical Plagiarism Bright Tunes Music Corp. v. Harrisongs Music (1976). Former Beatle George Harrison was found guilty of “subconsciously” plagiarizing Ronnie Mack’s 1963 song He’s So Fine in his 1970 hit My Sweet Lord. Harrison was ordered to pay $587,000 in damages. Reference: Bright Tunes Music Corp. v. Harrisongs Music, Ltd., 420 F. Supp. 177 (S.D.N.Y. 1976).
George Harrison Schipol Airport George Harrison image from upload.wikimedia.org, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taylor Swift, Music Copyright Lawsuit (2025)
In April 2025, poet Kimberly Marasco filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Taylor Swift. The lawsuit alleged that Swift incorporated elements of Marasco’s poetry into several songs, including The Man and My Tears Ricochet, seeking “tens of millions of dollars” in damages. Reference: MSN. (2025). Taylor Swift’s legal odyssey: Unpacking the Shake It Off copyright resolution, industry repercussions, and emerging 2025 courtroom dramas. MSN. URL.
Taylor Swift MTV Music Awards Taylor Swift image from upload.wikimedia.org, CC BY-SA 4.0

Pete Hegseth, Academic Misconduct (2025)
In May 2025, Princeton graduate and future Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was accused of plagiarizing portions of his senior thesis. Reference: News source on 2025 academic misconduct cases.
Pete Hegseth Official Portrait Pete Hegseth image from upload.wikimedia.org, CC BY-SA 4.0

This storyboard is intentionally simple and open-ended. Instructors and designers are encouraged to adapt, remix, or expand these ideas to best fit their learning objectives and student needs.

APA Citation Workshops (Instructor Resource & Storyboard Prototype)

This section is designed for instructors to prepare and present both historical and current cases of plagiarism. These cases serve as supplemental sources for teaching APA references and citations, and include a variety of source types (e.g., news, legal, images) to broaden student understanding.

  • Purpose:
    • Provide real-world examples for discussion and analysis.
    • Offer diverse source types for APA citation practice (e.g., articles, court cases, images).
    • Support instructor-led or self-paced learning.
  • Instructor Guidance:
    • Select or update cases to reflect current events and historical significance.
    • Use these cases to model citation correction and APA referencing in class or group activities.
    • Include your own citations and references as examples for students to follow.

Guiding Questions

  • How do we identify and correct missing or incorrect citations in real-world cases?
  • What are the preferred sources and formats for APA references?
  • How can we use a variety of source types (e.g., images, legal cases, news articles) in citation practice?

Storyboard Prototype Placeholders

  • Text:
    • Brief case descriptions (e.g., summary of a plagiarism incident, key facts, and outcomes).
    • Example APA citations and references for each case.
    • Instructor notes and guiding questions for discussion.
  • Visuals:
    • Placeholder images representing each case (e.g., book covers, news clippings, court documents).
    • Icons or graphics to indicate source types (e.g., camera for images, gavel for legal cases).
  • Audio:
    • Placeholder for audio narration of case summaries or instructor commentary.
    • Option for students to listen to case details or citation explanations.
    • Option for 30-second music segments from iTunes in case of George Harrison or Taylor Swith to add some levity to the introduction.
  • Interactions:
    • Clickable hotspots on visuals to reveal citation details or discussion prompts.
    • Drag-and-drop activity to match cases with correct APA citation formats.
    • Group discussion board or poll for students to share their citation corrections.

✅ Key Principles

  • If it’s a court case → cite with legal format (case name, year, reporter volume, page).
  • If it’s a news report → cite the article in APA (author, year, title, URL).
  • If you paraphrase summaries you found online → cite the secondary source, not the case itself.

This section is intended as a flexible resource for instructors to adapt, supplement, and storyboard their own e-learning solutions. All text, visuals, audio, and interactions above are conceptual placeholders to guide lesson design and prototyping. All case descriptions and media must include an example APA citation or a placeholder for students to add the correct citation.

Practice Correcting Errors

🔎 How to Retrofit Citations (APA Process)

When reviewing a draft, focus on these key steps:

  1. Identify what’s missing:
    • Look for names, dates, and events that are not supported by a citation.
    • Example: The list mentions Pete Hegseth, Francesca Gino, and a University of Minnesota professor but has no references.
  2. Search for reliable sources:
    • Use reputable outlets (e.g., NYT, Washington Post, BBC, Chronicle of Higher Education).
    • Avoid aggregators or secondary sources (e.g., MSN, Yahoo, Wikipedia).
  3. Gather APA source details:
    • Author(s)
    • Date of publication (year, month day)
    • Title of article (in italics)
    • Website or news source name
    • URL
  4. Create the APA in-text citation and reference:
    • General form: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article in italics. Source/Website. URL
    • Example: Doe, J. (2025, May 10). Harvard revokes tenure of Francesca Gino after misconduct findings. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/article-link

Keep your corrections focused and use real examples to guide your work.

Tooling / Ideation

For Lesson Developers:

To streamline the citation correction process described above, an interactive APA Citation Generator tool is provided below. This prototype HTML tool allows students (or instructors) to input author, date, title, source, and URL, and automatically generates a properly formatted APA reference.

  • Purpose: Automate and scaffold the citation correction workflow for students.
  • How to use: Enter the required information in the fields and click “Generate APA Citation” to see the formatted result. This can be used as a standalone activity or embedded in group work.
  • Storyboard placeholders:
    • Text: Instructions for using the tool.
    • Visuals: Input fields and output area for the citation.
    • Audio: (Optional) Narration or guidance for using the tool.
    • Interactions: Real-time citation formatting, error checking, and copy-to-clipboard functionality (future enhancement).

This tool can be further customized or extended to support additional citation styles or integration with external databases.

%%html

<!--
Tool here to take author url and paraphrase and output a correctly formatted APA
-->

<style>
  .apa-tool-label { display: block; margin-top: 8px; font-weight: bold; }
  .apa-tool-input { width: 90%; padding: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; }
  .apa-tool-btn { margin-top: 10px; padding: 6px 16px; background: #4e677a; border: 1px solid #2196f3; border-radius: 4px; cursor: pointer; }
  .apa-tool-output { margin-top: 16px; background: #5b756b; border-left: 4px solid #2196f3; padding: 10px; font-family: monospace; }
</style>
<div>
  <h4>APA Citation Generator</h4>
  <label class="apa-tool-label">Author(s):</label>
  <input class="apa-tool-input" id="apa-author" type="text" placeholder="e.g., Doe, J." />
  <label class="apa-tool-label">Date (Year, Month Day):</label>
  <input class="apa-tool-input" id="apa-date" type="text" placeholder="e.g., 2025, May 10" />
  <label class="apa-tool-label">Title (in italics):</label>
  <input class="apa-tool-input" id="apa-title" type="text" placeholder="e.g., Harvard revokes tenure of Francesca Gino after misconduct findings." />
  <label class="apa-tool-label">Source/Website:</label>
  <input class="apa-tool-input" id="apa-source" type="text" placeholder="e.g., The New York Times" />
  <label class="apa-tool-label">URL:</label>
  <input class="apa-tool-input" id="apa-url" type="text" placeholder="e.g., https://www.nytimes.com/article-link" />
  <button class="apa-tool-btn" onclick="generateAPA()">Generate APA Citation</button>
  <div class="apa-tool-output" id="apa-output"></div>
</div>
<script>
function generateAPA() {
  const author = document.getElementById('apa-author').value.trim();
  const date = document.getElementById('apa-date').value.trim();
  const title = document.getElementById('apa-title').value.trim();
  const source = document.getElementById('apa-source').value.trim();
  const url = document.getElementById('apa-url').value.trim();
  let citation = '';
  if (author && date && title && source && url) {
    citation = `${author} (${date}). <i>${title}</i> ${source}. <a href='${url}' target='_blank'>${url}</a>`;
  } else {
    citation = `Doe, J. (2025, May 10). <i>Harvard revokes tenure of Francesca Gino after misconduct findings.</i> The New York Times. <a href='https://www.nytimes.com/article-link' target='_blank'>https://www.nytimes.com/article-link</a>`;
  }
  document.getElementById('apa-output').innerHTML = citation;
}
// Show default on load
generateAPA();
</script>

APA Citation Generator

Small Groups and Feedback (Application)

Below is an example of a messy draft research paper. This sample intentionally lacks proper citations and references, illustrating common issues with plagiarism. Advanced cohort members should use this as a starting point for group sessions focused on identifying and correcting citation errors.

Literature has shaped culture and society through memorable phrases that continue to resonate today. For example, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times captures the contrasts of life in a way that still feels relevant. Another famous phrase, Romeo, Romeo, where art thou, has been quoted in countless settings as a symbol of love and longing. Likewise, in film and popular culture, lines such as Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn are recognized across generations.

These examples illustrate how literature and media are not confined to classrooms but influence our shared language and thinking. Yet, while these quotes are widely used, few students pause to reflect on their origins. A research-based approach to literature should require proper acknowledgment of sources, but in common usage these citations are often left out, which can blur lines between appreciation and plagiarism.

Discuss: Messy Draft

Speaker Notes:

  • Highlight that the draft lacks quotation marks, in-text citations, and references, which creates a plagiarism risk.
  • Emphasize the importance of proper attribution in academic writing.

Storyboard Prototype Placeholders:

  • Text: Display the messy draft passage on screen for all learners to read.
  • Visuals: Show highlighted sections of the text where citations or quotation marks are missing. Optionally, use icons or color coding to indicate errors.
  • Audio: Provide an audio recording of the passage being read aloud, allowing learners to listen and follow along. (Placeholder: “Audio narration of the draft passage.”)
  • Interactions:
    • Learners can click or tap on highlighted areas to receive hints about what is missing (e.g., “This quote needs a citation”).
    • Option to replay the audio or view the passage with/without highlights.
    • Group discussion prompt: “Work together to identify and correct all instances of missing citations or references.”

Engage: Start Learners on Citations and APA References Task

Logistics / Setup

  • Set up groups or breakout rooms.
  • Assign a peer mentor to each group or have mentors rotate among groups.

Task

  • Instruct learners to search for the original sources of the phrases in the draft and add proper citations and references.

Rubric

This section provides guidance to students on how to meet the instructor’s rubric and successfully complete the workshop.

Make Your Task

  1. Create a fun paragraph. Rework the mock paragraph to include your own popular quotes.
  2. Include multiple reference types. Add pictures, videos, or other supporting assets for your quotes.
  3. Use multiple APA citation styles. Include at least one court case, one news report, and one paraphrased reference.

Asset Capture

  1. Before copy: Submit your original paragraph to show your initial ideas.
  2. Action plan: Describe the citations and references you plan to add or improve.
  3. After copy: Submit your revised paragraph showing your progress using the tools and feedback.

Tool Support, Analytics, and Feedback

  • Use the provided upload tool (backed by Gemini) to submit your work. Each level must be completed before advancing to the next.
    1. Before copy: Upload your original paragraph. Gemini will check for creativity and ensure you have 3 to 5 different reference styles.
    2. Action plan: Identify resources to work on and discuss with peers or advanced cohort. Gemini will review your plan for completeness and variety.
    3. After copy: Submit your final paragraph. Gemini will compare your early draft, action plan, and final version, and provide recommendations.
    4. Advanced cohort signoff: The advanced cohort reviews group work, notes participation, and signs off on completion.
    5. Final submission: The student and group members submit the completed assignment to the instructor for certification.

Master and Certification (Assessment)

This section describes the grading and certification process from the instructor perspective.

  • Instructors review student progress using rubric criteria, workflow history, group participation, and individual metrics.
  • Mastery assessment is conducted at multiple stages (e.g., before copy, action plan, after copy), with pass/fail decisions and targeted feedback.
  • If mastery is not achieved, students are notified and given the opportunity to revise and resubmit their work for compliance.
  • Upon successful completion, an electronic certificate is awarded to the student, indicating:
    • Research competency
    • APA reference mastery
    • Citation mastery
    • Unlocking access to the next course or module

This process ensures that students meet the required standards before advancing and provides a clear record of achievement for both learners and instructors.

Example of completion

This is key provided to advance cohorts as guide in help student learners. This is also a product of walking an example through completion of Plagiarism avoidance workshop.

Literature has shaped culture and society through memorable phrases that continue to resonate today. For example, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” captures the contrasts of life in a way that still feels relevant (Dickens, 1859/2003, p. 1). Another famous phrase, “Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?” highlights themes of love and longing (Shakespeare, 1597/1997, 2.2.33). Likewise, in film and popular culture, lines such as “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” remain recognized across generations (Selznick, 1939).

These examples illustrate how literature and media are not confined to classrooms but influence our shared language and thinking. Yet, while these quotes are widely used, few students pause to reflect on their origins. A research-based approach to literature should require proper acknowledgment of sources, which strengthens credibility and avoids plagiarism.

References Dickens, C. (2003). A tale of two cities. Penguin Classics. (Original work published 1859) Selznick, D. O. (Producer). (1939). Gone with the wind [Film]. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. (Based on novel by M. Mitchell, 1936) Shakespeare, W. (1997). Romeo and Juliet. Dover Thrift Editions. (Original work published 1597)

✅ Correct APA formatting: in-text citations with years, page/line numbers; proper reference formatting with original + reprint dates.

Summary & Key Takeaways (Transition)

This section outlines the expected student accomplishments and outcomes upon completion of the workshop.

Key Takeaways:

  • Students demonstrate competence in constructing and retrofitting APA references and citations for research papers.
  • Evidence of:
    • Research competency
    • Mastery of APA reference formatting
    • Proficient citation practices

Feedback and Records:

  • Students have access to learning data, including comments and feedback from peers, advanced cohorts, and instructors.
  • All feedback and assessment details are maintained for permanent record-keeping.

Next Steps:

  • Certification is unlocked for students who meet mastery criteria.
  • Students are encouraged to review feedback and rubric results to identify strengths and areas for growth.
  • Skills developed in this workshop are intended for application in future research and writing assignments.

Student can now proceed to next learning module (ie drafting a research paper)