compare the student text with the source

Question

Source: anyone who has experienced firsthand the overwhelming power of the life-size painted bulls and horses in the cave of southern western France will understand at once that the creators must have been as modern in their minds as they were on their skeletons

Student text: If you’ve seen the ancient paintings in France’s Lascaux Cave, then you know that their creators must have been as modern in their minds as they were in their skeletons

Is the students text plagiarized? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The student's text does not appear to be directly plagiarized, but it does closely paraphrase the source material. Here are the reasons for this assessment:

1. Close Similarity in Structure and Content: The student text maintains much of the same structure and meaning as the source. Phrases like "ancient paintings in France’s Lascaux Cave" closely mirror the original mention of "life-size painted bulls and horses in the cave of southern western France."

2. Lack of Quotation Marks or Citation: The student text does not use quotation marks to indicate that it is directly referencing the source material and also does not provide a citation. This omission can create confusion about the originality of the student's writing.

3. Rephrasing: While the student does rephrase the text (e.g., using "know that their creators must have been" instead of "will understand at once that the creators must have been"), the overall resemblance in thought and expression remains strong.

To avoid plagiarism, the student should ensure that they either quote the source directly with appropriate citation or significantly restructure the ideas and language to make it distinct from the original while still crediting the source of the inspiration.