How to avoid plagiarism: paraphrasing
MY PRACTICE: Summarising
You can practise what you’ve learnt by working on these tasks. Some student summaries are also provided.
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Remember, these are only suggestions; there are many ways to summarise these texts.
You can talk to your instructor for other acceptable summaries.
Example 1
Original text:
“In general, NOMA schemes can be classified into two types: power-domain multiplexing and code-domain multiplexing. In power-domain multiplexing, different users are allocated different power coefficients according to their channel conditions in order to achieve a high system performance. In particular, multiple users’ information signals are superimposed at the transmitter side. At the receiver side successive interference cancellation (SIC) is applied for decoding the signals one by one until the desired user’s signal is obtained [8], providing a good trade-off between the throughput of the system and the user fairness. In code-domain multiplexing, different users are allocated different codes and multiplexed over the same time-frequency resources, such as multiuser shared access (MUSA) [9], sparse code multiple access (SCMA) [10], and low-density spreading (LDS) [11]. In addition to power-domain multiplexing and code-domain multiplexing, there are other NOMA schemes such as pattern division multiple access (PDMA) [12] and bit division multiplexing (BDM) [13]. Although code-domain multiplexing has a potential to enhance spectral efficiency, it requires a high transmission bandwidth and is not easily applicable to the current systems. On the other hand, power-domain multiplexing has a simple implementation as considerable changes are not required on the existing networks." [p. 2].
From: M. Aldababsa, M. Toka, S. Gökçeli, G. K. Kurt, and O. Kucur, “A Tutorial on Nonorthogonal Multiple Access for 5G and Beyond,” Hindawi Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, vol. 2018, pp. 1-24, 2018.
Instructor's comments:
When summarising, an author's (let's say author X) idea/argument expressed is condensed into as few sentences as possible (by Y). In other words, the gist of the argument is recorded without giving details/background and so on.
A suggestion:
[To address the new challenges in (5G) wireless technology some NOMA schemes are being investigated,] namely – among others – power-domain and code-domain multiplexing (techniques). While code-domain multiplexing has great potential in enhancing efficiency, it remains limited given the current systems. Taking these restrictions into account, power-domain multiplexing remains a better option giving the users sufficient throughput, while remaining fair.
Note: the part of the sentence in brackets […] is added for clarity; another way could be: “Some NOMA schemes (X and Y) are being investigated at present.
Student's summary:
Power-domain multiplexing, which is a basic NOMA easy-to-implement technique, is based on power allocation for many users. Transmitters superimpose signals, while receivers decode them separately, through successive interference cancellation, aiming to trace the desired signal. This scheme offers sufficient throughput and user fairness. Code-domain multiplexing delivers code allocation to different users, which are multiplexed over the same time-frequency spectrum. It is a spectrum-efficient technique, but with limited compatibility [1].
Example 2
Original text:
"3D printing has recently gained interest in various industries, offering new manufacturing paradigms to production of existing or novel product designs. Within the pharmaceutical industry, it is seen as a disruptive technology with the potential to digitalise pharmaceutical production by dispensing individual units of personalized medications in a flexible manner" [pp. 3-4].
From: A. Awad, F. Fina, A. Goyanes, S. Gaisford, and A. W. Basit, “Advances in powder bed fusion 3D printing in drug delivery and healthcare”, Adv. Drug Delivery Rev., vol. 174, no. 169, pp. 3-4, 2021.
Student's summary
3D printing has applications in various fields, such as, but not limited to, personalized medicine [1].
Instructor's comment:
The summary is succinct and to the point.
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Example 3
Original text:
"A code of ethics would then prescribe how professionals are to pursue their common ideal so that each may do the best he can at minimum cost to himself (and to the public if looking after the public is part of the ideal). The code is to protect each from certain pressures (for example, the pressure to cut corners to save money) by making it reasonably likely that most other members of the profession will not take advantage of his good conduct. A code protects members of a profession from certain consequences of competition" [p. 50].
From: M. Davis, Thinking Like an Engineer: Studies in the Ethics of a Profession Practical and Professional Ethics Series, New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Student's summary
The code of ethics, which is the set of moral rules that encourage professionals to make ethical decisions while also protecting them from harming their careers [1].
Instructor's comments:
The sentence is unfinished.
An unfinished sentence is not a sentence; a sentence is a full thought.
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Example:
1. Leipzig is a beautiful city.
2. Leipzig, which is a beautiful city, is south of Halle.
The clause withing the commas, i.e., “which is a beautiful city” is what we call a Relative Clause. A relative clause is an important construct because it describes the subject.
So for (2): Subject (Leipzig) [+RS] + verb (is) + complement (a beautiful city)
In the student’s sentence we have: “The code of ethics (Subject), which is the … (RS)” and we miss the rest of the sentence.
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A suggestion:
A code of ethics in engineering – a set of guiding principles of conduct and best practices - encourages professionals to make ethical decisions while also protecting them from predatory behaviour.
Example 4
Original text:
"Medical imaging forms a key part of clinical diagnosis, and improvements in the quality and type of information available from such images have extended the diagnostic accuracy and range of new applications in health care. Previously seen as the domain of hospital radiology departments, recent technological advances have expanded medical imaging into neurology, cardiology, and cancer centers, to name a few. The past decade, in particular, has seen many significant advances in each of the imaging methods covered in this chapter" [p. 3].
From: X. Zhang, N. Smith, and A. Webb, “Medical imaging”, in Biomedical Information Technology, D. D. Feng, Ed. Burlington: Academic Press, 2008, pp. 3–27.
Student's summary
After the past few decades, technological advances have helped medical imaging, which started off as part of hospital radiology department, become a formidable asset to even more majors, such as neurology and cardiology, due to its ability to provide images with better quality and more information than before [1].
Instructor's comments:
Overall, it is quite problematic.​
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Shortcomings:
Too many unnecessary details are provided.
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A suggestion:
Technological advancement in medical imaging have made it possible to use in other important fields of medicine, such as neurology, cardiology and cancer centres.