READING TEXT

Plagiarism is not a new problem in higher learning institutions, but it is a serious issue. Many
students are unintentionally guilty of plagiarism when they write reports, assignments and
research papers. Plagiarism is an act of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts
of another author without authorization and the representation of that author’s work as one’s
own as by not crediting the original author. In other word, plagiarism is the act of presenting
the words, ideas, images, sounds, or the creative expression of others as your own. Plagiarism
results in serious consequences, including disciplinary action. Students can take a proactive
approach, checking their work for issues before submitting it their instructors. For their part,
instructors can identify instances of plagiarism by checking student papers using one of the
many websites and software programs available. Here are five online services or tools that
check text for plagiarism: CheckForPlagiarism.net, Dupli Checker, PlagiarismChecker.com,
PlagiarismDetect.org and Turnitin. There are different types of plagiarism and all are serious
violations of academic honesty. Intentional plagiarism is when a student either knowingly
takes credit for someone else’s work by copying and pasting content into a paper without
attribution or buys a paper written by someone else, usually from an online “paper mill.”
Instructors often detect incidents of intentional plagiarism when a student’s writing is
inconsistent in style, vocabulary and content, or when the instructor remembers having read
the same words before. Accidental plagiarism occurs when a student doesn’t know how to
properly attribute work belonging to others. As a result of improper quoting, paraphrasing,
summarizing or citing, the work is unintentionally attributed to the student. Whether
plagiarism is intentional or accidental, once students submit their finished papers, they
assume responsibility and instructors can take several actions when judging plagiarism.
Therefore, there are a few Tips for avoiding plagiarism. Take careful, organized notes. As
you read and take notes from books, articles, etc., clearly mark which passages you copy
word for word (direct quotes), which are paraphrases, and which are your own thoughts. Also
include the original source's citation and the specific page numbers for each note. When you
refer to them later to write assignments, you'll know where you got the material and how it
should be cited. Next, manage your time effectively. Don't let stress, lack of time, or not
understanding an assignment tempt you to plagiarize. Instead plan ahead and start your
research early. Confused about an assignment? Get clarification from your instructor as soon
as possible. Finally, know how and when to cite. You need to cite when using words, ideas
or images from any medium, print or online: books, journal and newspaper articles, websites,
films, songs, interviews, and more. Also give credit when you reuse photos, charts, diagrams,
video clips, etc