Originality Detectives Lesson Plan Originality Detectives
Unit: Academic Integrity & Research Skills
Mission Duration
45 Minutes
Audience
7th Grade
Approach
Interactive Discussion & Hands-on Lab
Objective
Identify plagiarism scenarios and apply strategies for academic honesty.
Why This Mission?
Building awareness of plagiarism promotes academic integrity, strengthens research and writing skills, and empowers students to create authentic work with confidence.
Mission Gear
Originality Detectives Teacher Slides
Plagiarism Scenarios Handout
Paraphrasing Practice Worksheet
Chart Paper and Markers
Student Devices (Internet Access)
Pre-Mission Briefing
Time: 15 minutes
Print one copy per student of Plagiarism Scenarios Handout .
Print one copy per student of Paraphrasing Practice Worksheet .
Review teacher slides and note key definitions.
Set up chart paper and markers at the front.
The Mission Briefing (Instructional Steps)
5 MIN
1. Case Introduction: What is Plagiarism?
Engage students by asking if they’ve ever used someone else’s words or ideas. Use slides to define plagiarism and discuss real-world consequences. Emphasize why originality matters in school and beyond.
10 MIN
2. Field Work: Exploring Scenarios
Distribute the Plagiarism Scenarios Handout . In pairs, students analyze cases to decide if plagiarism occurred. Reconvene to record pair conclusions on chart paper and discuss reasoning.
10 MIN
3. Detective Skills: Paraphrasing Strategies
Present paraphrasing tips on slides. Model paraphrasing by showing a sample sentence and rewriting it. Invite volunteers to paraphrase a second example aloud, offering real-time feedback.
15 MIN
4. Lab Practice: Paraphrasing Workout
Hand out the Paraphrasing Practice Worksheet . Students work individually to paraphrase short passages. Circulate to check for original phrasing and proper in-text citation format.
5 MIN
5. Mission Debrief: Review & Reflect
Students share one strategy they’ll use to avoid plagiarism. Summarize the three key takeaways: Define, Paraphrase, Cite . Remind students to apply these skills to future assignments.
Originality Detectives Teacher Slides Originality Detectives
Uncovering Plagiarism and Honing Your Own Voice
7th Grade • 45 Minutes
Confidential
Integrity Bureau
Mission Objectives
Define plagiarism in all its forms.
Explain why originality matters for your future.
Master the art of paraphrasing.
Learn the basics of proper source citation.
The Crime: What Is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas as your own without proper credit.
"It can be intentional (cheating) or accidental (forgetting to cite)."
Exhibit A: Uncredited Work
Why Does Originality Matter?
Integrity
Maintains academic integrity and trust between you and your teachers.
Growth
Doing the work yourself helps you learn how to think critically and solve problems.
Reputation
Prevents serious consequences and protects your reputation as a scholar.
"Your voice is the most valuable tool you own."
Field Work: Case Files
1
Work in pairs with your Case File handout.
2
Read each scenario carefully. Is it Plagiarism or Original Work?
3
Be ready to defend your reasoning to the Chief Inspector!
Time Allotted: 10 Minutes
The Briefing: Class Discussion
Share
Present your pair's conclusions for each scenario.
Record
We'll track key reasons on our class chart paper.
Connect
How do credit and originality impact the reader?
Detective Skills: Paraphrasing
01
Change Words
Swap out verbs and nouns with synonyms. Use your own vocabulary.
02
Change Structure
Move the pieces around. Break one long sentence into two short ones.
03
Cite the Source
Always give credit! Even if the words are yours, the idea belongs to the source.
Skill Demonstration
The Original Source
“Global warming causes ice caps to melt, raising sea levels.”
The Paraphrase
“According to climate scientists, melting ice sheets lead to higher ocean levels.”
Paraphrasing Practice Worksheet Paraphrasing Practice
Skill Lab: Transformation
Name:
Date:
Detective Rules for Paraphrasing:
Change words & phrases
Alter sentence structure
Attribute the source (e.g., [Smith, 2021])
Passage 1
“The Amazon rainforest is often called the ‘lungs of the Earth’ because it produces about 20% of the world’s oxygen.”
Your Paraphrase:
Citation Evidence:
Passage 2
“Water evaporates from oceans and lakes, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into clouds, and then falls back to Earth as precipitation.”
Your Paraphrase:
Citation Evidence:
Passage 3
“Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen.”
Your Paraphrase:
Citation Evidence:
Passage 4
“In a democracy, citizens have the power to elect their leaders and influence government decisions through voting and free speech.”
Your Paraphrase:
Citation Evidence:
Passage 5
“A computer algorithm is a set of step-by-step instructions that tells a computer how to solve a problem or perform a task.”
Your Paraphrase:
Citation Evidence:
Case Closed Checklist
When you paraphrase, you're using the original idea but putting it into your own words and structure. Always add a citation to give credit to the source!
Plagiarism Scenarios Handout Case Files: Scenarios
Investigation Handout
Detective ID
Mission: Read each scenario below. With your partner, determine if plagiarism has occurred and provide your expert reasoning based on the evidence.
Case #001: The Penguin Report
Plagiarism
Not Plagiarism
Maria copied a paragraph from an online article about penguin habitats directly into her report without using quotation marks or citing the source.
Reasoning:
Case #002: Textbook Rewording
Plagiarism
Not Plagiarism
Jamal read about the water cycle in a science textbook. He rewrote the information in his own words and included an in-text citation: (Smith, 2018).
Reasoning:
Case #003: Friend's Insight
Plagiarism
Not Plagiarism
Ava found a helpful explanation of photosynthesis in her friend’s notes. She changed a few words but kept the same structure and did not credit her friend.
Reasoning:
Case #004: Direct Quotation
Plagiarism
Not Plagiarism
Ethan included a direct quote from a scientist in his essay about robotics. He used quotation marks and added the source name and year in parentheses.
Reasoning:
Case #005: The Missing Tag
Plagiarism
Not Plagiarism
Lily learned an interesting fact online about the Great Wall of China. She explained it in her own words for her history project but forgot to include any citation or reference.
Reasoning:
Case #006: Self-Recycling
Plagiarism
Not Plagiarism
Noah used a poem he wrote for his English class last year and submitted it as new work for a creative writing assignment without telling his teacher.
Reasoning:
FOR OFFICIAL INSPECTION USE ONLY
Originality Detectives Bureau
Plagiarism Brainstorm Warm-Up Initial Investigation
Plagiarism Brainstorm • Warm-Up
Detective ID:
1
In your own words, what is plagiarism?
2
Describe an example of plagiarism you've seen (online, in school, etc.):
3
What is one strategy you already know to avoid it?
Pair Up & Brief
Compare your responses with a partner. Listen for similarities and new perspectives. Be ready to share one key point with the class!
Originality Detectives Exit Ticket Final Debrief
Case Closed: Exit Ticket
Name:
1. Define plagiarism in your own words:
2. List one strategy for paraphrasing:
3. Why is it important to cite sources?
4. How will you apply this in your next work?
Final Debrief
Case Closed: Exit Ticket
Name:
1. Define plagiarism in your own words:
2. List one strategy for paraphrasing:
3. Why is it important to cite sources?
4. How will you apply this in your next work?
