ESL Podcast 910 - Plagiarizing a Paper

paper - an essay or another written document, especially when required as homework for a class

For school next week, I have to turn in two papers and take a midterm exam.

to slap (something) on - to add something to a document very quickly and carelessly, without spending a lot of time in preparation or implementation

The text is okay, but let's slap a few graphics on the report before we send it out.

to wise up - to understand the unpleasant truth or reality about something; to stop being naive or too innocent in one's thinking

Did you really believe Gerald when he said those things to you? You're going to have to wise up and realize that he just says whatever he thinks you want to hear.

to cheat - to achieve something or win a game by doing something that is dishonest and gives one an advantage over other people who are trying to do the same thing

Athletes who take steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs are cheating to win.

to get caught - for someone to find out about something bad one has done when one was trying to hide it

You should have seen the look on little Mina's face when she got caught taking cookies from the cookie jar.

to flunk - to receive a failing grade; to get an F; to not pass an exam or class

The final exam is really difficult. If you don't study, you'll flunk.

to be/get expelled - to be told to leave a school or university and not come back, usually as a punishment for poor grades and/or bad behavior

Students who use illegal drugs will be expelled.

goody two-shoes - a rude, teasing term for a person (usually a young girl) who always follows the rules, does everything right, and tries to please people in authority

Sheila is a goody two-shoes who always does her homework and always raises her hand before speaking during class.

to lift - to take without permission; to steal

The store's security cameras recorded an image of someone lifting the new MP3 players when the clerk wasn't watching.

to paraphrase - to express someone's idea in one's own word; to rephrase how someone else has said or written something

Even if you paraphrase an idea, you still have to indicate where you originally found it.

source - where a statement or idea comes from, usually a book, journal, newspaper, or website

According to our sources, sales have increased by 20% over the past six months.

to represent (something) - to present something in a certain way

The marketing manager is representing the new strategies as if they were revolutionary, but they're just the same things all of our competitors are doing.

attribution - a statement that indicates where an idea or statement came from; credit

Yes, you may use our materials as long as you include the full attribution.

to plagiarize - to present another person's words or ideas as one's own

Many professors use special software to determine whether their students are plagiarizing others' work in their essays.

degree - diploma; the official piece of paper showing that one has completed a university program in a particular area

Ahmed has a graduate degree in computer science and an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering.

damn straight - an informal phrase used to show one's full agreement with what another person has said

A: Are you going to report all of your income on your tax return? B: Damn straight! I don't want to get in trouble with the government.

to shortchange (someone) out of (something) - to give someone less than what he or she deserves; to cheat someone or treat someone unfairly

Poor Brandon. He has no idea his mother shortchanged him out of a job offer by calling his interviewers to ask for special treatment.