Key Points
- Patchwriting is when you do not use enough of your own words when you are paraphrasing.
- To avoid patchwriting, rewrite the idea in your own words. This means not only using synonyms but also changing the sentence's structure and the order of ideas.
- Remember that the meaning of the sentence should not change.
What is a Patchwriting?
Patchwriting means “restating a phrase, clause, or one or more sentences while staying close to the. language or syntax of the source” (Jamieson & Howard, 2011).
How can Patchwriting be avoided?
6 Steps to Overthrow PatchwritingCatalog your inspirations and sources. ... Identify your value proposition. ... Budget enough time for great content. ... Focus, focus, focus. ... Read and set aside. ... Give your work to another set of eyes.
Is Patchwriting unethical?
However, patchwriting is not always a form of academic dishonesty; it is not always committed by immoral writers. Often it is a form of writing that learners employ when they are unfamiliar with the words and ideas about which they are writing.
What is Patchwriting and paraphrasing?
The presentation refers to “patchwriting.” The presenter should spend a few moments defining patchwriting as a way of misusing sources in which someone copies the original language but changes every few words or uses synonyms. Patchwriting is not paraphrasing. A paraphrase uses one's own words to capture an idea.
When can paraphrasing be not used?
Don't Paraphrase Too Closely Taking portions of text from one or more sources, crediting the author/s, but only making 'cosmetic' changes to the borrowed material, such as changing one or two words, simply rearranging the order, voice (i.e., active vs. passive) and/or tense of the sentences is NOT paraphrasing.
How do you make a paraphrase?
How to paraphraseRead the original source carefully. ... Identify the main point(s) and key words.Cover the original text and rewrite it in your own words. ... Write the paraphrase in your own style. ... Review your paraphrase to check it accurately reflects the original text but is in your words and style.More items...•
Is Patchwriting intentional?
Their research reflects a growing sense among writing teachers that patchwriting is not intentional, not plagiarism, and not effectively dealt with through punishment (Howard and Jamieson 2013).
What is cosmetic changes to source material?
Inappropriate paraphrasing Taking portions of text from one or more sources, crediting the author/s, but only Page 8 8 making 'cosmetic' changes to the borrowed material, such as changing one or two words, simply rearranging the order, voice (i.e., active vs. passive) and/or tense of the sentences is NOT paraphrasing.
What is paraphrasing in communication?
Paraphrasing means rephrasing text or speech in your own words, without changing its meaning. Summarizing means cutting it down to its bare essentials. You can use both techniques to clarify and simplify complex information or ideas. To paraphrase text: Read and make notes.
What is cosmetic changes to source material?
Inappropriate paraphrasing Taking portions of text from one or more sources, crediting the author/s, but only Page 8 8 making 'cosmetic' changes to the borrowed material, such as changing one or two words, simply rearranging the order, voice (i.e., active vs. passive) and/or tense of the sentences is NOT paraphrasing.
What is paraphrasing in communication?
Paraphrasing means rephrasing text or speech in your own words, without changing its meaning. Summarizing means cutting it down to its bare essentials. You can use both techniques to clarify and simplify complex information or ideas. To paraphrase text: Read and make notes.
What do you call a paraphrasing that is too close to the original?
Paraphrasing is plagiarism if your text is too close to the original wording (even if you cite the source). If you directly copy a sentence or phrase, you should quote it instead. Paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you put the author's ideas completely in your own words and properly cite the source.
What is unique value content
Unique value is the next-level evaluation criterion, a new approach for assessing content that goes beyond the requirements set for technically unique texts. It was released to the masses along with the Google Panda algorithm update in 2011.
What is the difference between patchwriting and verbatim plagiarism
Verbatim plagiarism or word-for-word plagiarism is when you copy the entire content or a part of it from another website. The way search engines work is that they divide every new text into word groups and analyze them to find similarities with other texts.
What websites are at risk
Platforms that provide advertising services or help promote websites by selling external links often have too many backlinks. From the point of view of search engines, such platforms are not at all useful and are considered stuffed.
How to create content of unique value
The best way of doing this is creating your own content without rewriting information from other sources and using additional tools that help you improve the value and comprehensiveness of your content.
What tools help create better content
Analyzing your competitors’ websites lets you find out what kind of useful info is missing on their platforms and adds this info to your own site’s articles.
Wrapping up
Unique value is the result of development of Google algorithms. Since search engines focus mainly on the user experience and convenience, they started using more and more additional criteria when it comes to website evaluation. As a result, useless websites with low-quality content get much lower SERP standings.
Why is patchwriting important?
Because patchwriting can result from a student's inexperience with conventions of academic writing, instruction in quotation and source attribution and a request for subsequent revision of the paper may be an appropriate response for the instructor. But because patchwriting often results from a student's unfamiliarity with the words and ideas ...
What is patch writing?
In other words, patchwriting can describe a less judgmental midpoint that can be seen as a “teachable moment” rather than an all-or-nothing accusation of plagiarism (which might, of course, bewilder and discourage a student).
What is specialized academic writing?
Indeed, specialized academic writing is often full of subject-specific vocabulary and expressions that must be acquired by students entering the field, and modeling their writing on that of published scholars is exactly what they need to do before they can produce competent scholarly writing of their own.
Is correct attribution and paraphrasing important?
Clearly, correct attribution and paraphrasing are important lessons to be learned, and not just in academia, but also in journalism: the Poynter Institute has been watching patchwriting in its coverage of the profession:
Is patchwriting plagiarism?
Their description contains a definition of patchwriting that is similar to Professor Howard’s: If a journalist has mirrored the language of another author save for a few word substitutions, they may be guilty of patchwriting. This is a lesser charge than plagiarism if the original author is credited.
Who coined the term "patchwriting"?
Just such a term was coined by writing professor Rebecca Moore Howard: patchwriting. In a 1993 article, she proposed the following definition:
Is patchwriting an offense?
But in serious academic writing, it’s clear that patchwriting is more problematic: In academia, patchwriting is considered an offense equal to that of plagiarism.
What is patchwriting in writing?
Patchwriting is an attempt to put a source into your own words, but still fails to be a synthesis of the original. While it appears to put things in your own words, it’s still too close to the original. For example: •Patching over the original source with substitutions or deletions.
Is patchwriting a synthesis?
Patchwriting doesn’t demonstrate synthesis or a full understanding of the original source. Substituting synonyms or rewording the structure of the statements is patchwriting and is not synthesis of information. While it appears to put things in your own words, it’s still too close to the original.
What is patchwriting?
So what is patchwriting? It is a poor way of paraphrasing information that leans too much on the original material. The problems associated with this can easily be included in the bracket of intellectual theft. A visual example could do a better job of illustrating this problem.
What is the one mistake we are all taught to avoid as writers?
The one mistake we are all taught to avoid as writers is plagiarising other people’s work. It is understandable. If one embarks on an intellectual journey and decides to put down the information for you, the least you could do is link the information to that person in the most appropriate manner.
How to corrupt a youth?
The best way to corrupt a youth is to teach him to hold similar thinkers in higher esteem than different thinkers.
Does citing Nietzsche remove plagiarism?
The use of a citation after mentioning Nietzsche at the start of the sentence removes plagiarism. It is also better to remember to place the book or source of the material in the bibliography. In this way, you will have given the original author the credit that is due.
Can you patchwrite all together?
Avoiding patchwriting all together is possible. If it is a difficult task to write in your words then you don’t have to use your own words. You could use the words of the original author exactly as they are and it will not be plagiarising. How does this happen then?
What is patchwork paraphrasing?
Patchwriting exists in two forms, one of which is better termed “patchwork paraphrasing” because it concerns what amounts to poor paraphrasing, a situation where the writer swaps out a few words and calls it good. Paraphrasing, when done well, is when someone else’s ideas are put into new language and original sentence structure. A good paraphrase contains the original’s idea, perhaps a key term or two, but that’s it.
Why are learners scared of plagiarism?
Well, one theory is that learners are often scared to death of plagiarizing because the concept is often taught by way of one plagiarism horror story after another in which the sordid details of destroyed careers and academic expulsions are recounted with sensationalism fitting a tabloid.
Is plagiarism a problem?
We all know that plagiarism is wrong, and that in the academic world, it is akin to stealing. Document content that doesn’t belong to you is the proverbial rule of thumb professors offer. If you are not sure whether or not to cite something, cite it. The problem is that even content that is cited can be dangerously close to plagiarism, and it has a name: patchwriting.
Why do writers use patch writing?
Howard speculates that most of the time, writers employ patchwriting because they don’t have enough time to craft original thoughts, or they don’t have enough time to understand their source material beyond the surface conclusions. At the very least, patchwriting is bad writing, she said.
What is patchwriting & how common is it?
Patchwriting is often a failed attempt at paraphrasing, Howard said. Rather than copying a statement word for word, the writer is rearranging phrases and changing tenses, but is relying too heavily on the vocabulary and syntax of the source material. It’s a form of intellectual dishonesty that indicates that the writer is not actually thinking for herself.
What to do when you have a clear understanding of what your own original idea is?
That’s easier to do when you have a clear understanding of what your own original idea is. Support high-integrity, independent journalism that serves democracy. Make a gift to Poynter today.