By: Arthur Hall
Submitted: 2010-11-15 18:48:50 | Word Count: 678
According to The New Penguin English Dictionary, the word plagiarism comes from the Latin plagiarius, which means kidnapper. In the context of university writing, either as a student or a teacher, plagiarism means the submission of work that rightfully belongs to someone else. This is a violation of the noble concept of academic integrity, and leads to accusations of academic misconduct or academic dishonesty.
The penalties can range from fail grades or expulsion from university to outright public and professional condemnation.
Kinds of Plagiarism
According to the Griffith University (Australia) guidelines, there are many different kinds of plagiarism:
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presenting or submitting another student's paper as one's own
paraphrasing an author's words without proper acknowledgment
quoting directly from a source (book, journal article) so as to imply that the words are one's own
paying for essays from internet essay mills or other providers
taking sole individual credit for group work
copying an idea, concept, data, image, sound text or other created work and submitting it as [one's] own
Plagiarism, therefore, is an unfortunate fact of life within academic writing. Although it appears to be less a legal crime than an ethical misdemeanour, the implications can be troubling. A student who plagiarises his/her way, undetected, through university is certain to repeat that same behaviour within a professional career, where the consequences of discovery can be even more severe. A teacher who does the same thing is at risk of being exposed as a fraud, and ostracised from his/her professional community.
Some Reasons for Plagiarism
Plagiarism is not always intentional or deliberate. Helen Song-Turner (2008) explains that plagiarism in student writing can sometimes happen because of different cultural perspectives on the idea of the "ownership of text" (Pennycook in Song-Turner, 2008: 40).
For example, in some Asian cultures, it is accepted practice to reproduce word for word the writing of an expert in the field. It is a sign of deep respect on the part of the student. So when an Asian student enters a Western university, there is the risk of unintentional plagiarism in that student's work. Usually, that risk is minimised when he or she is educated in the Western system of referencing.
Another reason is the general confusion surrounding online material. An abundance of freely-shared resources – digitized books, e-articles, software, music files, video clips, blogs and tweets – blurs the lines between the ideas of ownership and appropriation. However, if one remembers the basic rule – acknowledging the source – then plagiarism is less likely to occur.
Ignorance of academic conventions, across students from all cultural groups, can also lead to cases of plagiarism. There is confusion about how to reference. Some students have made a habit of copying from encyclopaedias and dictionaries, assuming that this is the correct way to write assignments and reports. Still others have never been introduced to referencing rules in academic writing. In all cases, being taught the rules of referencing and careful note-taking will minimise the risk of plagiarism.
Plagiarism also occurs when the person is either unprepared, lazy, or has simply been unwilling to engage in research and study.
Some Ways to Avoid Plagiarism, for University Students
Paraphrasing or rewriting Gibaldi (2003: 75), here are some ways to avoid plagiarism:
Make a list of the writers and viewpoints discovered in one's research and use this list to double-check the presentation of material in one's paper.
Keep the following three categories distinct in one's notes: personal ideas, personal summaries of others' materials, and exact wording that is copied.
Identify the sources of all material borrowed – exact wording, paraphrases, ideas, arguments, and facts.
Check with the instructor when uncertain about one's use of sources.
Knowledge-production is a key element of university teaching and learning. Academics – either students or teachers – are expected to conduct their work in an ethical and honest manner. When plagiarism steps into the equation, not only does it harm the reputation of the plagiarist, but it also calls into question the integrity of the knowledge-production enterprise of a university.
Outside academia, writers need to be aware of copyright issues, and take adequate steps to protect online material from would-be plagiarists.
