It's hard to write a good paper about a bad topic. That's why ... - English

Avoiding Plagiarism Rhetoric 105
Incorporating and Attributing Your Sources
Write a new paragraph that corrects the plagiarism in the samples. In your correction, be
sure to make attributions—identify the author and smooth the “seams” between your
source’s ideas and your writing. Add in-text and parenthetical citations when needed.
Source: John Culhane, The American Circus, p. 305
At the Cirque Napoleon in Paris in 1859, Jules Leotard presented the first flying trapeze
act. A contemporary account marveled at Leotard’s “reckless breakneck flights from
trapeze to trapeze like some tropical bird swooping from branch to branch.” In case he
fell, a padded mattress was spread the whole length of the stage. Eventually, the mattress
was replaced by a net…the old-fashioned rope net is the form of protections still used in
the circus. “The net itself can be very dangerous,” said Tito Gaona (a trapeze artist), “but
it’s a circus tradition. Our fans love to see us bounce from the net.”
Paraphrased: According to John Culhane, the first flying trapeze act was in Paris in
1859. Jules Leotard swung from the trapeze like a tropical bird swooping from branch to
branch, and audiences ever since have been thrilled by the daring man on the flying
trapeze. To break his fall, “a padded mattress was spread” that covered the length of the
stage. Even though technology has improved, the net is a circus tradition. Tito Gaona
says that fans “love” to see them “bounce” from the net.
Source: John Culhane, The American Circus, p. 132
In [P.T.] Barnum’s version, Jumbo laid down his own life to save the little clown
elephant, Tom Thumb. Jumbo, wrote the mast publicist, “snatched the little elephant
from in front of the thundering train and hurled the little fellow twenty yards to safety.”
After he rescued Tom Thumb, wrote Barnum, Jumbo turned to face the oncoming
freight…”Jumbo…gave bun one groan after being struck and then assumed an attitude of
determination and composed himself to meet death with a becoming dignity and
fortitude.” Millions of Americans, included those who had never seen Jumbo, mourned
him as if they had lost a beloved pet and preferred to accept Barnum’s version of his
death.
Paraphrased: Barnum invented his own version of the death of Jumbo the Elephant.
“Millions of Americans” were saddened by the elephant’s death. They behaved as if they
had lost a beloved pet, says Culhane. Barnum described how Jumbo met his death being
very determined, with a “dignity” that elephants don’t usually have, and fortitude.