Introduction
Plagiarism means that taking someone else’s writing or thoughts and calling them your own. Plagiarism is a grave academic misconduct with serious punishment — failing, being on probation academically or even expulsion.
What Constitutes Plagiarism?
There are many forms of Plagiarism, examples include:
Direct plagiarism: Copy and paste from source without giving credit.
PARAPHRASING PLAGIARISM- restating a passage from another book in your words and not including the reference.
Mosaic Plagiarism- Mixing ideas from different writings without appropriately quoting the sources.
Almost A Crime: Handing Back Work That Was Not New.
Why Plagiarism Matters
Damaging Academic Integrity: Plagiarism violates the principles of academic integrity, honesty, and originality.
Equity: It is a disservice to both the original writer and the student who plagiarizes.
Legal Ramifications: In certain situations, plagiarism may result in legal action.
How to Avoid Plagiarism
Know Citation Styles: Be aware of the citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago) and preferably stick to one.
Effective paraphrasing: In your own language restate some occurrences and cite the source.
Verbally cite: Direct quotes should be put in quotation and cite source
Utilize Citation Tools — Use citation management tools such as: Zotero, Mendeley or EndNote.
Get Guidance: If you are still confused on proper citation practices or avoiding plagiarism, ask your instructor or a Writing Center.
Consequences of Plagiarism
Academic Consequences: failing grades, academic probation or even expulsion.
Hindrance to Opportunities: A dented academic reputation can not reflect positively on future prospects.
Legal trouble: Plagiarism can lead you into legal problems in extreme cases.
You will learn about the basic principles of academic integrity and proper citation practice in Avoiding Plagiarism, one of a series of Mini-Courses offered for free to expand your knowledge base on relevant academic topics, so you can keep your nose clean and maintain that good head above water.
