M6.

AVOIDING PLAGIARISM:
SYNTHESIZING AND NOTE-MAKING
RENITA DONASARI, M.Pd.
SYNTHESIZING

 Synthesis is an important academic skill and a form of analytical writing which

involves grouping together ideas from others within the body of your assignment.
 Synthesis does not focus on a single author (or academic source), it is more
complex and draws on insights from a range of literature (or academic sources) to
identify both similar and contradictory ideas with a view to establishing links, tensions and
‘threads’ to support your argument.
 It is important to note that a synthesis is not a summary or retelling of the plots of literary
pieces. Instead, a synthesis essay is to create new knowledge out of existing knowledge
and sources.
 6 synthesis steps
1. Read your source material
2. Make notes from each source using your own words
3. Using a blank piece of paper, create a grid using one box for each source
according to the authors and information
4. Complete the grid by making bullet points of the main ideas from each source
5. Look for common themes and identify the arguments from each author
6. Present your argument, using a new paragraph for each new argument
NOTE TAKING/ NOTE MAKING

 Accidental plagiarism can happen when you take poor notes.

 When taking notes -> if you copy out paragraphs from texts, or badly paraphrase in your
notes, -> writing your assignment -> not realise that these thoughts or interpretation are not
your own -> accidentally plagiarise the source.
EXAMPLES: A GUIDE TO SYNT
HESIS
GOOD NOTE TAKING

 Good note taking can also help you with your referencing. Good note taking will include
all the information about your source so that when it comes to writing your article, you can
correctly attribute the source of the work (and find it again!)
 Furthermore, Good note taking is a fab academic practice that will help you will help you
organize your ideas from your reading, making your life easier.
How to do good note-taking
1. Keep Track of Your Notes

 Write down and store your notes on index cards, in a paper notebook, or in an app
(e.g., Google Keep, Evernote, Simplenote, Notability, Zoho Notebook, Microsoft
OneNote, and Apple Notes).
...Another way

 Consider Using a Research Tool: Tools like Diigo make it easy to find, highlight and

organize information that you want to include in your paper. Best of all, with these tools,
the attribution always stays with the work in the form of a link, making it much more
difficult to lose track of where something came from.
2. Get the Information You Need

 In your notes, be very careful to include all the information that you'll need to cite
later.
3. Take your notes ON the actual article you are reading: Use Quotation Marks
When You Quote

 In those places where your notes include verbatim (word for word) passages, be
sure to surround them by quotation marks so that later on, you will know who
wrote them.
4. Paraphrase

 You may want to paraphrase as you take notes. If something is only "lightly
paraphrased," make a note of this so that you can paraphrase it more deeply
before you include it in your paper.
 In a "light paraphrase," some of the text may still be very similar to the original.
5. Keep Track of Your Own Ideas

 As you take notes, you are probably starting to think of your own ideas about
what you are reading. Include these in your notes. Mark your ideas with "MINE"
so that later you will be able to tell the difference between your writing and that
of other authors.
6. Use a Code

 Use a Code to identify what you have been writing, Q-for direct quote; P for
paraphrase someone’s work, M-for your won thought or response.
7. Keep Notes in a Separate File

 Keep your notes in a separate file and switch back and forth between them. While
it may be a bit slower, it prevents any accidental contamination of outside writing
into your writing.
8. Keep Your Sources

 Keep the original sources (or copies) of the books and journals until you have
finished with the paper. Then you will be able to make a final check to make sure
that your citations are accurate.
9. Leave enough time to write your paper.

 If you are doing it late the night before it is due, you don't have time to
check your sources to make sure you are quoting accurately and to make sure
your prose isn't half remembered language from your sources
REFERENCES

 https://owl.excelsior.edu/plagiarism/plagiarism-how-to-avoid-it/plagiarism-note-taking/
 https://knox.libguides.com/c.php?g=400159&p=2720291
 https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/attachments/blog/Avoiding_Plagiarism_Slides
_Power_Session_to_send_out_0.pdf