Blog Entry #3

I had no idea that I could access so much information through databases.  Even while I was reading about databases I was not really sure how to go about accessing and searching the databases. I had no idea I needed a user name and password to access different databases.  I not only learned I needed user names and passwords, I learned where to find them and what they are. I believe it will help me a lot in my other classes.  I have not had much formal practice writing.  The hardest part for me is having enough information to write about.  Maybe having these databases to access more information while doing research will enable me to write more easily. 

When I first heard the word paraphrase my thoughts were that it was a synonym to summarize. I learned that paraphrasing is very different than summarizing.  I did not know that paraphrasing was still a form of plagiarizing if not done properly.  The paraphrasing exercise for me was very difficult.  I found it very difficult to find my own language and rewrite the information without copying it accidentally.  Knowing what I now know about plagiarizing I am very surprised that more people do not find themselves accidentally in trouble for plagiarizing.  Maybe more people do find themselves in trouble and I just do not know about it.

I would like to know more about how fine the line is between paraphrasing and plagiarizing.  Otherwise besides my difficulty finding enough to say I understand the things we learned in this unit.

                                                                 Thanks Jeremy