Idea Ownership Slides TRUTH TRACKERS
Lesson 1: Idea Ownership & Plagiarism
The Mystery Drawing
Imagine a classmate spends one hour drawing a beautiful dragon.
You take the drawing and sign YOUR NAME at the bottom.
"How does the artist feel?"
Classmate's Art
By: Me!
Property: Two Types
Physical Property
Your backpack
Your bike
Your sandwich
Things you can touch.
Intellectual Property
Your stories
Your song lyrics
Your research facts
Ideas from your brain.
The "P" Word
Definition
Plagiarism
Using someone else’s words or ideas and pretending they are yours.
Copying & Pasting
No Credit Given
Academic "Stealing"
Common Knowledge
Some facts belong to everyone. You don't need to give credit for things that are widely known.
The sun is a star.
Tokyo is in Japan.
Water boils at 100°C.
A year has 12 months.
The Rule of Thumb
"If you find it in 5 different places, it's probably common knowledge!"
Case Files Mission
Open your "Idea Ownership Case Files" worksheet.
Decide which characters are being honest and which are committing plagiarism.
Identify
Explain
Case Files Worksheet Truth Trackers: Case Files
Lesson 1: Idea Ownership & Plagiarism
Name:
Date:
Mission: Read each case file below. Determine if the student is committing Plagiarism (stealing ideas/words) or if they are being an Honest Researcher .
CASE #101
The Copy-Paste Cat
Evidence:
"Leo is writing a report about tigers. He finds a great sentence on Wikipedia that says: 'Tigers are the largest extant cat species.' He copies that exact sentence and puts it into his paper. He does not use quotation marks or mention Wikipedia."
Verdict:
Plagiarism
Honest
Why did you choose this?
CASE #102
The Common Knowledge Kid
Evidence:
"Maya is writing about the ocean. She writes: 'The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world.' She knows this from memory and doesn't look it up in a book. She does not cite a source for this fact."
Verdict:
Plagiarism
Honest
Why did you choose this?
CASE #103
The Shifty Sharer
Evidence:
"Sam is writing a story. He really likes a poem his friend wrote for English class. He uses two lines from the poem in his story, but he tells his teacher: 'My friend Alex wrote these lines!' and gives Alex credit."
Verdict:
Plagiarism
Honest
Why did you choose this?
DETECTIVE'S SUMMARY
In your own words, why is it important to tell your teacher where you got your information? Use the term Intellectual Property in your answer.
Integrity Intro Teacher Guide Integrity Intro
Teacher Facilitation Guide • Lesson 1
Duration
45-60 min
Lesson Objective
Students will define "Intellectual Property" and "Plagiarism" and differentiate between original work that requires citation and common knowledge that does not.
Key Vocabulary
• Intellectual Property
• Plagiarism
• Common Knowledge
• Attribution
1 THE HOOK: THE MYSTERY DRAWING (10 MIN)
Procedure:
A. Before class, ask a student who enjoys drawing to create a simple sketch on the whiteboard or a piece of paper.
B. Once they finish, walk over with a marker, cross out their name (or add yours if no name is there), and say: "Look at this wonderful drawing I made! I'm so proud of my work."
C. Observe the class reaction. Most students will immediately object. Ask the original artist: "How do you feel right now?"
D. Transition: Explain that taking someone's idea or creation is just like taking their physical property (like a bike or a pencil).
2 DIRECT INSTRUCTION (15 MIN)
Use the Idea Ownership Slides to guide this section. Focus on these discussion points:
Intellectual Property
Ask: "Why do we own our ideas? Why is it harder to 'see' someone stealing an idea compared to stealing a backpack?"
Common Knowledge
Play "Fact or Find": Shout out facts (e.g., 'Dogs have four legs', 'The capital of France is Paris'). If they know it without looking it up, it's Common Knowledge.
3 CASE FILES ACTIVITY (20 MIN)
Distribute the Case Files Worksheet . Students can work in pairs to discuss the "Verdicts."
Teacher Answer Key & Logic:
Case #101 (Leo): PLAGIARISM. He used exact words (direct quote) without quotation marks or a source.Case #102 (Maya): HONEST. This is common knowledge. No citation is needed for basic geographical facts found in most textbooks.Case #103 (Sam): HONEST. Even though he used someone else's work, he gave attribution (told the teacher who really wrote it).
ESL SUPPORT STRATEGIES
Visual Support
Use the "Property" slide visuals to reinforce the concept of ownership. Use hand gestures (pointing to brain for IP, hugging a backpack for physical property).
Sentence Frames
Quote vs Paraphrase Slides DOUBLE TROUBLE
Lesson 2: Quoting vs. Paraphrasing
" "
Who Said It Best?
Which statement sounds special enough that you must use the exact words?
"The Earth orbits the sun once every 365 days."
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin..."
The Rule
If the words are unique, famous, or beautiful, keep them exactly as they are!
Option 1: Direct Quote
Use the exact words from the source.
"Words belong inside the 'hugs'."
Example: The author says, "Polar bears are excellent swimmers."
Mechanics Checklist:
Quotation Marks " "
Capital Letter at start
Comma before the quote
Option 2: Paraphrase
Tell the same idea but in your own words.
The Original:
"The cheetah is the fastest land animal, reaching speeds of 70 mph."
The Paraphrase:
No other animal on land can run as fast as a cheetah.
WHY PARAPHRASE?
It shows you really understand what you read!
THE TRAP
Don't just change one or two words. Change the sentence structure too.
The Decision Tree
QUOTE IT
If the words are:
• Famous
• Powerful
• Perfectly written
" "
PARAPHRASE IT
If you just need:
• Facts
• Numbers
• Information
Rewording Lab Worksheet The Rewording Lab
Lesson 2: Quoting & Paraphrasing Practice
Subject Name:
Lab Date:
1
The Punctuation Station
Rewrite the sentences below as Direct Quotes . Use a comma and quotation marks correctly.
Source Information
Who: The Author • Words: Bees are essential for our food supply.
Your Quote:
The author says, "________________________________________________________________"
Source Information
Who: Neil Armstrong • Words: That's one small step for man.
Your Quote:
Neil Armstrong stated, "________________________________________________________"
2
The Rewording Room
Read the original text. Then, write a Paraphrase . Remember: use your own words and change the sentence structure!
Original Text
"Giant pandas spend about 12 hours a day eating bamboo, which makes up 99 percent of their diet."
Your Paraphrase
Original Text
"The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure ever built, stretching over 13,000 miles."
Your Paraphrase
Researcher's Choice
Look at the sentence below. Should you Quote it or Paraphrase it? Explain why.
"Be the change that you wish to see in the world."
— Mahatma Gandhi
My Choice:
Quote
Paraphrase
My Reason:
Quote vs Paraphrase Teacher Guide Rewording Lab
Teacher Facilitation Guide • Lesson 2
Duration
45-55 min
Lesson Objective
Students will distinguish between direct quotes and paraphrases, apply correct punctuation for quotes, and reword information effectively without changing the original meaning.
Key Skills
• Quoting Mechanics
• Sentence Restructuring
• Decision Making
• Vocabulary Substitution
1 THE HOOK: WHO SAID IT BEST? (10 MIN)
Procedure:
Display two types of statements on the board:
"The water cycle has four stages."
"I have a dream..."
Ask: "If you change the words in the first sentence, does it lose its power? What about the second one?" Guide them to see that Facts can be reworded, but Powerful Statements should stay exactly as they are.
2 DIRECT INSTRUCTION: THE "HUG" (15 MIN)
Use the Quote vs Paraphrase Slides . Teach the mechanics using the "Hug" analogy:
"Quotation marks are like a hug. They keep the author's words safe and separate from your own."
Quoting Checklist
1. Introductory phrase (The author says,)
2. Comma (,)
3. Opening "
4. Capital Letter (Exact)
5. Closing "
Paraphrasing Strategy
"Read it → Cover it → Say it → Write it." Encourage them to use synonyms (e.g., 'Giant' for 'Large').
3 REWORDING LAB ANSWER KEY
Part 1: Punctuation Station
• The author says, "Bees are essential for our food supply."
• Neil Armstrong stated, "That's one small step for man."
Part 2: Rewording Room (Sample Paraphrases)
Pandas: Almost everything pandas eat is bamboo, and they spend half their day eating it.Great Wall: At over 13,000 miles long, the Great Wall of China is the biggest thing humans have ever made.
ESL DIFFERENTIATION
Vocabulary Bank
Provide a list of synonyms for the paraphrasing task (e.g., instead of spend use take ; instead of build use make ).
Physical Practice
Have students use their fingers to make "air quotes" every time they say a direct quote in class to build muscle memory.
Anatomy of Citation Slides The Citation Map
Lesson 3: Finding Your Source Facts
Why create a citation?
Be Honest
It proves you didn't steal the idea.
Leave a Trail
It helps your readers find the source themselves.
The "Credits"
Think of it like the credits at the end of a movie. You are thanking the people who provided the information!
The "Big Four" Facts
WHO
Author
The person who wrote it.
WHAT
Title
The name of the book/website.
WHEN
Date
The year it was published.
WHERE
Source
The publisher or the URL.
Hunting in a Book
2023
By Jane Doe
Title Page
Check the first few pages. The Title and Author are usually there.
Copyright Page
Look for the small © symbol . The year next to it is your Date .
The Formula
Author. "Title." Date. Source.
Example Book:
Smith, John. All About Ants. 2018. Penguin Press.
Example Website:
NASA. "Mars Exploration." 2024. nasa.gov.
Citation Scavenger Hunt Log Citation Scavenger Hunt
Mission: Find the Big Four!
Explorer Name:
Use the books at your station to fill in the missing information below. Each book is a new "Target".
Target #1
Source Investigation
Author(s)
Title of Book
Year Published (©)
Publisher
Construct Your Citation Below:
Format: Author. Title. Date. Publisher.
Target #2
Source Investigation
Author(s)
Title of Book
Year Published (©)
Publisher
Construct Your Citation Below:
Format: Author. Title. Date. Publisher.
The Detective's Log
Which of the "Big Four" facts was the hardest to find? Why was it difficult?
Final Credits Slides The Final Credits
Lesson 4: Building Your Reference List
- A -
- B -
- C -
Think Like a Movie
When a movie ends, you see a long list of Credits.
"It lists every actor, the director, the camera operators, and even the people who brought the snacks!"
Your research paper needs the same thing!
RESEARCH CREDITS
Jane Doe
Author of Ants Rule
Bob Smith
National Geographic
NASA
Mars Photos
The Bibliography
What is it?
A Reference List (or Bibliography) is a list of all the sources you used in your research.
Usually found on the last page.
Tells the reader where you got your facts.
The Golden Rule
A - B - C
Your list must always be in ALPHABETICAL ORDER by the author's last name!
Let's Sort Them!
Which source comes first in the list?
Wilson, Sarah.
Adams, Kevin.
Miller, Tom.
Correct Order: Adams → Miller → Wilson
The Alphabet Challenge
Open your "Alphabet Order Challenge" sheet.
Practice sorting source cards into a perfect bibliography!
Remember: Look at the First Letter of the Citation!
Alphabet Order Challenge Worksheet Alphabet Order Challenge
Lesson 4: Organizing Your Research Credits
Name:
Date:
1
The Scrambled Sources
Look at these five citations. They are in the wrong order! Circle the first letter of the author's name in each one.
A
Z hang, Wei. Life in Space. 2022. Science Kids.
B
A lbert, Susan. Gardening 101. 2015. Green Thumb Press.
C
G arcia, Carlos. The History of Soccer. 2019. Sports Weekly.
D
M artin, Lucy. Birds of North America. 2021. Nature Press.
E
B rown, James. Cooking with Kids. 2023. Chef Junior.
2
The Perfect Bibliography
Now, write the citations in the correct Alphabetical (A-Z) order. Use the author's last name to decide the order.
The Golden Rule Checklist
Is the list in A-B-C order?
Are authors' names spelled correctly?
Are titles in italics (if possible)?
Is there a title for your list?
Honesty in Action Slides Truth Tracker Pledge
Lesson 5: Choosing Honesty Every Time
The Grey Area
Scenario:
"Leo is writing his project. It's 10:00 PM and he is very tired. He finds one perfect sentence on a website. He thinks, 'It's just ONE sentence. It doesn't matter.' He copies it without a citation."
Is this okay?
YES
NO
Accident or Choice?
Accidental
• Forgetting the quote marks.
• Losing the source website.
• Not knowing the rules.
Still plagiarism, but you can fix it by learning!
Intentional
• Copying a whole paragraph.
• Changing names on a paper.
• Hiding the source on purpose.
This is dishonest and breaks the trust with your teacher.
Why does it matter?
Loss of Trust
People won't believe your work is yours in the future.
Missed Learning
When you copy, your brain doesn't learn how to write or think.
Academic Penalty
In middle school, high school, and college, you can be expelled.
The Pledge
Today, you will sign the Truth Tracker Pledge. You are promising to be an honest researcher for the rest of your life!
"I will give credit to every mind that helped me build mine."
Integrity Pledge Certificate OFFICIAL PLEDGE
The Truth Tracker Academy
This document certifies that
has successfully completed the Truth Tracker Research Course and is hereby committed to the highest standards of academic honesty and intellectual integrity.
My Personal Code of Honor
I will always use Quotation Marks when I copy exact words.
I will always Paraphrase facts by changing the words and structure.
I will always include a Citation so others can find my sources.
I also promise to:
Truth Tracker Signature
Teacher Witness
VERIFIED RESEARCHER • 2026
