What can result from paraphrasing another author’s work with minimal alteration?

Paraphrasing another author’s work with minimal alteration can lead to it being classified as plagiarism because it does not sufficiently transform the original text or convey a new understanding of the ideas being presented. Proper paraphrasing involves rewriting the original material in your own words while also providing a citation to give credit to the original author. If the paraphrase is too close to the original language or structure—essentially only slight adjustments made—it fails to demonstrate original thought or independent analysis and misrepresents the work's originality. Therefore, the act of presenting it as one's own is against academic integrity standards and violates the principles of ethical scholarship, resulting in a classification of plagiarism.