Cary Moskovitz
Professor of the Practice in the Thompson Writing Program
Current Research Interests
Text recycling (aka "self-plagiarism") refers to a writer’s reusing excerpts from previously published writing, either verbatim or in a slightly altered form, in a new publication without attribution. This practice is more common and accepted than generally acknowledged, especially in the natural and medical sciences, where it is often tacitly expected. My research explores the ethical, practical, and legal issues of text recycling in scientific research and writing--in both professional and educational contexts. I am lead P.I. for the Text Recycling Research Project, a multi-institution and multidisciplinary research project funded by the NSF.
I also study higher education writing pedagogy. I am particularly interested in approaches to teaching writing that help students move beyond seeing writing as something one does to complete a school assignment to understanding writing as an intellectual and rhetorical activity. More broadly, I am interested in practical questions about how faculty who are not specifically trained in writing pedagogy can work productively with student writing. I am the creator and director of the Duke Reader Project, an innovative educational initiative through which students receive feedback on drafts of their work from Duke alumni and employees with relevant professional expertise.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
- Professor of the Practice in the Thompson Writing Program, Thompson Writing Program, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2018
- Director of Writing in the Disciplines of Thompson Writing Program, Thompson Writing Program, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2019
Contact Information
- Bivins Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- Box 90025, Durham, NC 27708-0025
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cmosk@duke.edu
(919) 668-1615
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Cary Moskovitz: professional website
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Duke Reader Project
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Text Recycling Research Project
- Background
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Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., North Carolina State University 1989
- M.S., North Carolina State University 1987
- B.S., North Carolina State University 1985
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Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Associate Professor of the Practice in the Thompson Writing Program, Thompson Writing Program, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2013 - 2018
- Director of Writing in the Disciplines of Thompson Writing Program, Thompson Writing Program, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2011 - 2016
- Assistant Professor of the Practice of Writing, Thompson Writing Program, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2008 - 2013
- Recognition
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In the News
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JUN 25, 2021 -
JUL 1, 2020 Environmental Factor
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- Expertise
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Subject Headings
- Research
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Selected Grants
- Standard: An Investigation of Text Recycling in Scientific Research awarded by National Science Foundation 2017 - 2023
- Professional Readers for STEM Student Writers awarded by National Science Foundation 2011 - 2014
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Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants
- Understanding Text Recycling in Health Care Research Writing: A Pilot Study awarded by Arts and Sciences Faculty Research Grant 2016 - 2018
- Investigating self-plagiarism and text recycling in medical research writing (#16-03), awarded by Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation Endowment Fund 2016 - 2018
- Publications & Artistic Works
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Selected Publications
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Books
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Moskovitz, C., and L. Smith-Lovin. Writing in Sociology: A Brief Guide. Edited by T. Deans and M. Poe. Oxford University Press, 2016.Link to Item
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Academic Articles
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Moskovitz, Cary. “Beyond “See Figure 1”: A Heuristic for Writing About Figures and Tables.” Journal of College Science Teaching 52, no. 3 (February 1, 2023): 67–74.Open Access Copy Link to Item
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Anson, Ian G., and Cary Moskovitz. “Text recycling in STEM: A text-analytic study of recently published research articles.” Accountability in Research 28, no. 6 (August 2021): 349–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989621.2020.1850284.Full Text Open Access Copy
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Moskovitz, Cary. “There is no absolute expectation about text recycling.” Clinical Biochemistry 86 (December 2020): 65–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2020.10.004.Full Text Open Access Copy
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Moskovitz, Cary, and Susanne Hall. “Text Recycling in STEM Research: An Exploratory Investigation of Expert and Novice Beliefs and Attitudes.” Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, March 30, 2020, 004728162091543–004728162091543. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047281620915434.Full Text Open Access Copy
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Pemberton, Michael, Cary Moskovitz, Susanne Hall, and Chris M. Anson. “Reuse in STEM Research Writing: Rhetorical and Practical Considerations and Challenges.” Aila Review 33, no. 1 (2020): 120–35.Open Access Copy
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Hall, Susanne, Cary Moskovitz, and Michael A. Pemberton. “Attitudes toward text recycling in academic writing across disciplines.” Accountability in Research 25, no. 3 (January 2018): 142–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989621.2018.1434622.Full Text Open Access Copy
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Moskovitz, C. “Volunteer Expert Readers: Drawing on the University Community to Provide Professional Feedback for Engineering Student Writers (In preparation).” Advances in Engineering Education, March 14, 2017.Open Access Copy
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Moskovitz, C. “Text recycling in health sciences research literature: a rhetorical perspective.” Research Integrity and Peer Review 2, no. 1 (February 6, 2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41073-017-0025-z.Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
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Cary Moskovitz, D. K. ““Not (Entirely) in Their Own Words:Plagiarism, Process, and the Complicated Ethics of School Writing”.” Writing & Pedagogy 2, no. 2 (2010).
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Reynolds, J., R. Smith, C. Moskovitz, and A. Sayle. “BioTAP: A systematic approach to teaching scientific writing and evaluating undergraduate theses.” Bioscience 59, no. 10 (November 1, 2009): 896–903. https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2009.59.10.11.Full Text
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Reynolds, Julie A., Robin Smith, Cary Moskovitz, and Amy Sayle. “BioTAP, the Biology Thesis Assessment Protocol: A Systematic Approach to Teaching Scientific Writing and Evaluating Undergraduate Theses.” Bioscience 59, no. 10 (2009): 896–903.
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Reynolds, Julie A., and Cary Moskovitz. “Calibrated Peer Review™ assignments in science courses: Are they designed to promote critical thinking and writing skills?” Journal of College Science Teaching 38, no. 2 (2008): 60–66.
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Moskovitz, Cary, and Michael Petit. “"Insiders and Outsiders: Redrawing the Boundaries of the Writing Program”.” Writing Program Administration 31, no. 1 (October 2007).
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Gray, Susan S., and Cary Moskovitz. “"Some Insights about Students’ Interpretations of Histograms”.” Focus on Learning Problems in Mathematics 29, no. 1 (January 2007).
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Moskovitz, C., and D. Kellogg. “Primary science communication in the first-year writing course.” College Composition and Communication 57, no. 2 (December 1, 2005): 307–34.
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Moskovitz, C. A., R. M. Hall, and F. R. DeJarnette. “New device for controlling asymmetric flowfields on forebodies at large alpha.” Journal of Aircraft 28, no. 7 (January 1, 1991): 456–62. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.46049.Full Text
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Moskowitz, C. A., R. M. Hall, and F. R. Dejarnette. “Combined effects of nose bluntness and surface perturbations on asymmetric flow past slender bodies.” Journal of Aircraft 27, no. 10 (January 1, 1990): 909–10. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.45956.Full Text
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Rao, D. M., C. Moskovitz, and D. G. Murri. “Forebody vortex management for yaw control at high angles of attack.” Journal of Aircraft 24, no. 4 (January 1, 1987): 248–54. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.45433.Full Text
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Moskovitz, C. “Text Recycling in Scientific Writing,” n.d. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-017-0008-y.Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
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Book Sections
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Moskovitz, Cary. “Text Recycling in Chemistry Research: The Need for Clear and Consistent Guidelines.” In International Ethics in Chemistry: Developing Common Values across Cultures, edited by Susan M. Schelble and Kelly Elkins. American Chemical Society, 2021.Open Access Copy Link to Item
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Other Articles
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Moskovitz, Cary, Susanne Hall, and Michael Pemberton. “Common Misconceptions about Text Recycling in Scientific Writing.” Bioscience. American Institute of Biological Sciences, October 13, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biac090.Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
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Moskovitz, C. “Self-Plagiarism, Text Recycling and Science Education.” Bioscience. American Institute of Biological Sciences, January 2016. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biv160.Full Text Open Access Copy
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Moskovitz, C. “Plagiarism or text recycling? It depends on the context.” Oupblog. Oxford University Press, December 24, 2015.Link to Item
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Moskovitz, C., and D. Kellogg. “Lab course goals: Science or writing? Response.” Science, July 29, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.333.6042.524-b.Full Text
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Moskovitz, Cary. “Reader Experts Help Students Bring the Write Stuff.” The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 2011.
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Moskovitz, C., and D. Kellogg. “Inquiry-based writing in the laboratory course (vol 332, pg 922, 2011).” Science, 2011.Link to Item
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Book Reviews
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Moskovitz, Cary. “Introducing Students to College Writing.” Pedagogy. Duke University Press, January 1, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1215/15314200-2010-025.Full Text
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Conference Papers
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Moskovitz, Cary, Chris Roy, and Todd Woerner. “Professional readers for STEM student writers: How university alumni and professional staff can help STEM students develop communication and reasoning skills.” In Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 244. AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2012.Link to Item
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Moskovitz, C. A., R. M. Hall, and F. R. Dcjarncttct. “Experimental investigation of a new device to control the asymmetric flowfield on forebodies at large angles of attack.” In 28th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 1990, 1990. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1990-69.Full Text
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Moskovitz, C. A., R. M. Hall, and F. R. DeJarnette. “Effects of nose bluntness, roughness and surface perturbations on the asymmetric flow past slender bodies at large angles of attack.” In 7th Applied Aerodynamics Conference, 1989, 1989. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1989-2236.Full Text
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Wahls, R. A., R. J. Vess, and C. A. Moskovitz. “An experimental investigation of apex fence flaps on delta wings.” In 3rd Applied Aerodynamics Conference, 1985, 1985.
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Hall, Susanne, and Cary Moskovitz. “Understanding Text Recycling: Findings from an NSF-Funded Study and Implications for RCR Training,” n.d.
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Moskovitz, C. “The Laboratory Report as a Rhetorical Act (plenary talk),” n.d.
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- Teaching & Mentoring
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Recent Courses
- WRITING 101: Academic Writing 2023
- WRITING 101: Academic Writing 2022
- WRITING 808: Certificate of Accomplishment in Teaching Writing in the Disciplines 2022
- WRITING 89S: First-Year Seminar: Special Topics 2021
- WRITING 101: Academic Writing 2021
- WRITING 808: Certificate of Accomplishment in Teaching Writing in the Disciplines 2021
- Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
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Presentations & Appearances
- Self-Plagiarism or Text Recycling? the Ethics of Reusing Your Own Writing. GW Writing Program. April 2023 2023
- Text Recycling (AKA “Self-Plagiarism”): What Researchers Need to Know. Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation. April 2023 2023
- Writing with Visuals across the Arts and Sciences. WID Distinguished Lecture. GW Writing Program. April 2023 2023
- Text Recycling (AKA “Self-Plagiarism”) in Research Writing: Thorny Issues and Best Practices.. Research Ethics Program. March 2023 2023
- Text Recycling (AKA “self-plagiarism”) in research writing: complications and best practices . Research Ethics Special Event. March 2023 2023
- What is Legitimate Science?. Art of Environmental Writing. Art of Writing. March 2023 2023
- Text Recycling (AKA “Self-Plagiarism”) in Scientific Writing: Thorny Issues and Best Practices.. Dialogues in Research Ethics. Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy. January 2023 2023
- Text Recycling in the Health Sciences: Complications and Best Practices.. Uniformed Services University Graduate School of Nursing. February 2022 2022
- Text recycling or “self-plagiarism”? Developing better policy for authors, editors, and publishers in STEM . 2021 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies. ACS. December 2021 2021
- Text Recycling: Best Practices and Better Policies. Conference on Plagiarism Detection. October 2021 2021
- Is it Self-Plagiarism? The Do’s and Don’ts of Text Recycling. Dept of Anthropology. September 2021 2021
- Text Recycling in Health Sciences Publications: Complex Challenges and Findings from the Text Recycling Research Project . 39th Annual Meeting. International Academy of Nursing Editors. August 2021 2021
- Understanding text recycling. Committee on Publication Ethics. August 7, 2020 2020
- What is Text Recycling? When is it Acceptable? When is it Legal? . Council of Scientific Editors. June 17, 2020 2020
- The complicated world of text recycling (AKA ‘self-plagiarism’) in scientific writing. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. June 11, 2020 2020
- Findings from the Text Recycling Research Project. Annual International Conference of Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. February 21, 2020 2020
- The Text Recycling Research Project: The Challenges and Our Approach. Responsible Conduct Of Research-Research Integrity Consortium. Annual International Conference of The Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. February 20, 2020 2020
- Text Recycling in Scientific Research Writing Findings from the Text Recycling Research Project (with Susanne Hall). Medical Writing & Communication Conference. American Medical Writers Association . November 2019 2019
- Understanding Text Recycling: Findings from an NSF-Funded Study and Implications for RCR Training. Society of Research Administrators International Annual Meeting. Society of Research Administrators. October 21, 2019 2019
- The Text Recycling Research Project (with David Hansen & Michael Pemberton). European Seminar. Committee on Publication Ethics . September 2019 2019
- Thinking Rhetorically about Undergraduate Lab Reports. Department of Physics. University of British Columbia. May 2019 2019
- Text Recycling and Self-plagiarism: Findings from an NSF-sponsored study and implications for Journal Offices. ISMTE RTP MEETING. International Society of Managing and Technical Editors. March 2019 2019
- Panelist: Plagiarism and Intellectual Credit. Research Town Hall. Duke Office of Scientific Integrity and School of Medicine. February 2019 2019
- Communicating science research to non-specialist audiences. UNC Coastal Studies Institute. October 2017 2017
- Text recycling or "self-plagiarism"? How academic gatekeepers view text reuse. . University of North Carolina at Charlotte. October 2017 2017
- Facilitator for Mellon-funded series of workshops and consultations with faculty and administration. Writing for understanding, thinking through writing. Hollins University. August 2017 - March 2018 2017 - 2018
- Text Recycling: What is it? Why should we care? . Dialogues in Research Ethics series. University of Miami. May 2017 2017
- Text recycling in STEM research writing: Common practice or plagiarism?. Annual Meeting. Council of Science Editors . May 2017 2017
- The Duke Reader Project: Pairing student writers with Duke community readers. . Hollins University. April 2017 2017
- Text Recycling or “Self-Plagiarism” in Scientific Discourse. Georgetown University. October 2016 2016
- Text recycling in STEM research writing: Reasonable reuse or self-plagiarism?. George Washington University. October 2016 2016
- Text recycling and self-plagiarism in scientific research writing. Department seminar series. NC State University , Dept of Crop and Soil Sciences. September 2016 2016
- Text Recycling or 'Self-Plagiarism' in Scientific Discourse. NC State University, Campus Writing and Speaking Program. April 2016 2016
- The Laboratory Report as a Rhetorical Act. 2015 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year. American Association of Physics Teachers. July 22, 2015 - July 24, 2015 2015
- Sustainable and Engaging Approaches to Providing Feedback on Student Writing. Virginia Wesleyan College. January 2015 - January 2015 2015
- Preventing Plagiarism in Online Courses. Teaching Ideas. Duke University Graduate School. November 11, 2013 2013
- Why you should use wikis for student writing assignments. March 18, 2013 2013
- Audio Feedback for Student Writing. February 25, 2013 2013
- “Teaching Writing in the Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics,”. Bucknell University. February 1, 2011 2011
- Working Productively with Student Writing. University of Alabama at Birmingham. October 1, 2009 2009
- Haverford Writing Symposium (invited panelist). Haverford College. April 1, 2009 2009
- “Designing Writing Assignments for Engineering Courses”. University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Engineering. April 1, 2009 2009
- “The Duke Reader Project: Bringing student writers together with Duke community readers.”. April 1, 2009 2009
- “The Duke Reader Project: Pairing Student Writers with Alumni Readers”. Conference on College Composition and Communication. March 1, 2009 2009
- Responding Efficiently and Effectively to Student Writing. Duke University Graduate School. February 1, 2009 2009
- Thinking beyond the ‘Lab Report’: Undergraduate Lab Courses as Productive Sites for Student Writing. September 1, 2008 2008
- Designing Writing Assignments for Health Science Courses.. May 1, 2008 2008
- “High-Tech WAC?: The use (and misuse) of Calibrated Peer Review as a Writing-to-Learn and Learning-to-Write Tool”. May 1, 2008 2008
- “Putting Student Writing to Work: The Academic Writing Class as a Research Collective.”. Conference on College Composition and Communication. April 1, 2008 2008
- Supporting Student Writers in Undergraduate Research Environments. February 1, 2008 2008
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Service to the Profession
- Reviewer. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 2020 2020
- Reviewer. Accountability in Research. 2020 2020
- Reviewer. Across the Disciplines. 2018 2018
- Reviewer: NSF grant. National Science Foundation. 2018 2018
- Reviewer. Journal of Writing Assessment. 2017 2017
- Reviewer. CBE: Life Sciences Education. July 2014 2014
- Reviewer : External Program Review. George Washington University. May 2014 2014
- Proposal Reviewer : International Writing Across the Curriculum Conference. December 17, 2013 2013
- Reviewer. Advances in Physiology Education. April 2013 2013
- Reviewer. Oxford University Press. February 2013 2013
- Reviewer. Advances in Physiology Education. 2013 - 2013 2013
- convener, chair and co-presenter : Pre-conference workshop, Conference on College Composition and Communication. February 1, 2012 2012
- proposal reviewer : International Writing Across the Curriculum Conference. February 1, 2012 2012
- Reviewer: NSF grant review panel. April 4, 2011 2011
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