Why Is Plagiarism Unethical?
Any student beyond primary school has encountered the issue of plagiarism. Most students are constantly reminded of the definition and penalties for the act over the course of their academic careers. Since the varieties of plagiarism are numerous and the penalties are severe, all academic writers should consistently check their work for any instances.
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Scope
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In its most basic form, plagiarism is passing off another's work as one's own. For instance, if you write a paper, copy others' words and findings and do not provide a reference for their contribution, you would be plagiarizing. Paraphrasing the words of others or using their ideas without proper citation also qualify as plagiarism.
Interesting, plagiarism can also be copying your own words without citing your previous work. This is because after publishing a paper, the words contained are no longer the property of the writer, but the property of the publisher. If writers wish to reuse published content, they must properly cite what now belongs to another entity.
A Form of Theft
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The first basic reason that plagiarism is unethical is because it is a form of theft. Even the most primitive human societies understand that there is something not quite right about taking something that is not yours, whether it is a banana, a canoe, an automobile, an identity or a thought. Your words and ideas are your intellectual property, and if someone takes them from you without giving you credit, you have been robbed.
Plagiarism usually benefits the thief. You may be academically lauded for your paper, despite the fact that you didn't do any of the research. Plagiarism can lead to higher grade point averages, more glowing recommendations and other forms of academic recognition. Theft doesn't benefit the thief is still theft, but is not be policed so thoroughly.
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Degree Acquisition
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Another reason that plagiarism is unethical is that this particular form of theft can put others in danger. If your plagiarized paper earned you a doctoral degree, you would be given significant authority in that document that was not earned through hard work and authentic expertise, which often puts others at risk.
Penalities
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The penalties for plagiarism depend on the type. If you reuse your own words, the penalty will usually be less than if you steal the words of someone else. However, certain institutions take all plagiarism very seriously and will expel all guilty academicians. This type of offense will follow the guilty from institution to institution, and has actually ruined the careers of prominent scholars. Perhaps the greatest penalty is not the loss of a diploma or degree, but the loss of trustworthiness and respect.
Avoidance
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The world of academia understands that modern-day scholars stand on the shoulders of giants. When compiling research for a paper, it wouldn't make sense to reinvent the wheel and do the research over again. Therefore, it is permissible to reference the work of others as long as the reference is properly cited.
Consult citation guides on the various writing formats (MLA or APA, for example) for specific instructions on citation to avoid this serious academic offense. It is always a good idea to proofread your writings and make sure that any idea that did not come from you is properly cited.
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References
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