---
title: "Plagiarism: paraphrasing vs patchwork"
subject: "Communication English"
chapter: 4
key: "semester_5/communication_english:plagiarism-paraphrasing-patchwork"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/plagiarism-paraphrasing-patchwork
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Plagiarism: paraphrasing vs patchwork

Communication English · Chapter 4: Introduction to technical writing process

- Asked in: 2082 Kartik (new course), 5 marks
- Video: [What is Plagiarism? Types of Plagiarism-What is Not Plagiarism?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5--ssYqyWoE) — Management Tutorials
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/plagiarism-paraphrasing-patchwork
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/communication_english/chapter-4

## Question

What is plagiarism? Find out the difference between paraphrasing plagiarism and patchwork plagiarism.

## Short answer

Plagiarism is using another's work without credit. Paraphrasing plagiarism rewrites a single source's ideas without citation; patchwork plagiarism stitches together phrases from multiple sources with little change and no credit. Both require proper citation.

## Answer

**Plagiarism** is the use of another person's words, ideas, data or work as one's own without giving proper credit to the source. It is academic dishonesty and may bring penalties such as failure, suspension or legal action.

#### Paraphrasing plagiarism and patchwork plagiarism
| Point | Paraphrasing plagiarism | Patchwork (mosaic) plagiarism |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Rewriting someone's ideas in one's own words without citing the source | Combining phrases, sentences or ideas from several sources into one text, with little change |
| Source | Usually one source | Many sources |
| Method | Changes the wording or structure of the original but keeps the ideas | Copies pieces and stitches them together, changing a few words |
| Credit | No acknowledgement of the original author | Often no acknowledgement of any source |
| Appearance | Looks like original wording | Looks like a new text but is a collage |
| Remedy | Cite the source even when paraphrasing | Use quotation marks for copied words, and cite all sources |

#### Explanation
In paraphrasing plagiarism, the writer may use entirely different words, but the idea belongs to someone else, so credit is still due. In patchwork plagiarism, the writer takes small portions from several places and joins them, so the work seems new. Both are avoided by proper citation, quotation marks for exact words, and genuine synthesis of ideas in the writer's own thinking.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Plagiarism is:
   A. Using another person's words, ideas or work as one's own without credit
   B. Quoting with correct citation
   C. Writing from one's own research
   D. Summarising with acknowledgement
   Answer: A. It is using others' work without giving proper credit. (Key point: Definition)

2. Paraphrasing plagiarism means:
   A. Copying word for word with quotation marks
   B. Rewriting someone's ideas in one's own words without citing the source
   C. Combining many sources in a collage
   D. Citing every source correctly
   Answer: B. Even with changed wording the idea belongs to someone else, so credit is due. (Key point: Paraphrasing plagiarism)

3. Patchwork (mosaic) plagiarism involves:
   A. Rewriting one source completely
   B. Citing sources in APA style
   C. Joining phrases or sentences from several sources with few changes
   D. Writing original ideas
   Answer: C. It is a collage of pieces from many sources, changing only a few words. (Key point: Patchwork plagiarism)

4. How can both types be avoided?
   A. Change a few words only
   B. Use more sources without citing
   C. Avoid reading any source
   D. Cite sources, use quotation marks for exact words and synthesise ideas yourself
   Answer: D. Proper citation, quotation marks and genuine synthesis prevent plagiarism. (Key point: Remedy)

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- [Chart vs table; bar vs pie graph](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Adifferences-chart-table-bar-pie) — Communication English, chapter 4

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