Plagiarism Definition
Plagiarism can be intentional or accidental, so students as well as writers in all fields should educate themselves about what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it. Teachers should also learn about how to detect plagiarism in their students' work, and teach their students about citing sources properly.
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Definition
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Plagiarism includes intentional and unintentional use of someone else's words or ideas without acknowledgment, says Purdue University's Online Writing Lab, or OWL. It includes copying an entire paper or paraphrasing an idea without attributing the source, as well as using diagrams or images without giving credit to their creator.
Plagiarism at the college level takes a number of forms. Some students have resorted to buying papers online, or finding them at websites like Essay Mill. Others simply never learned how to cite sources properly.
Areas of Confusion
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The issue of what to cite can sometimes be confusing. Often a student does not have a high level of familiarity with everything written in the field, so he might mention an idea without crediting the source simply because he doesn't know the source exists. Or, she might assume something is common knowledge and doesn't warrant a citation. (The OWL at Purdue recommends verifying the fact with at least five credible sources before considering it common knowledge.) Others feel confused about the technical aspects of citing sources, such as whether they must provide a parenthetical citation in every sentence in which they use someone else's ideas.
Contexts
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Plagiarism occurred in many fields that make use of written communication. In the academic community, people have used plagiarized work to further their own reputations while claiming credit for others' ideas. Plagiarism is a serious issue in journalism as well, because it undermines not only an individual journalist's credibility but also the publication she was writing for. Fact checkers and others involved with the production process can help to minimize the likelihood of publishing plagiarized material by verifying where the information came from.
Self-Plagiarism
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Self-plagiarism means re-using your own work without acknowledging that it comes from a previous paper or book. Some might ask why self-plagiarism is a problem, and while it may not be as serious as stealing someone else's work, it can still be an issue. For instance, if someone repeatedly uses the same information in a series of books or articles without attributing it to a former book or paper, it might seem that he has produced more work than he really has.
Prevention
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As the Internet has become more prevalent, students have used it to copy material. However, teachers can use the Internet as a tool for detecting plagiarism as well. Websites like Copyscape allow teachers to search for text to determine whether students have plagiarized their work or not. The Council of Writing Program Administrators offers advice to help teachers eliminate plagiarism. Educating students about plagiarism and choosing strong sources, as well as citing them correctly, can help them to avoid plagiarism. Designing assignments that relate more directly to students' lives can also help them to become more fully engaged in the writing process, thereby using their own ideas and backing them up with strong sources that they cite, says the council.
If you're a student trying to avoid plagiarism, many online resources, such as the OWL at Purdue University, can help you. If you're not sure what should be cited, or how to cite it, visit that website for more information. Talk with your teacher or professor to voice your concerns as well---she'll probably be glad you did.
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