A Tutorial on Plagiarism

Summary

This informative video discusses the issue of plagiarism among students, highlighting common reasons for its occurrence, such as time constraints and lack of understanding. It defines plagiarism as the act of presenting someone else's work or ideas as one's own and emphasizes the importance of proper citation. The video outlines clear and subtle boundaries of plagiarism, providing practical examples of what constitutes plagiarism versus legitimate use of sources. Ultimately, it encourages students to avoid plagiarism by understanding intellectual property rights and the necessity of proper attribution in academic work.

Takeaways

• 😀 Plagiarism involves taking someone else's work or ideas and presenting them as your own.
• ⏳ Common reasons for plagiarism include time pressure, perceived skill gaps, and uncertainty about what constitutes plagiarism.
• 📖 The Oxford English Dictionary defines plagiarism as literary theft and misrepresentation of authorship.
• 🔍 Quoting requires quotation marks, a reference, and a corresponding bibliography item.
• 📚 Paraphrasing does not require quotation marks, but it still necessitates a reference and bibliography entry.
• 🚫 Misrepresenting someone else's ideas or words as your own is considered academic fraud and theft.
• ⚖️ Penalties for plagiarism can range from failing assignments to expulsion from academic institutions.
• ⚠️ Obvious cases of plagiarism include copying text without citation or purchasing papers.
• 🛑 Subtle forms of plagiarism include altering a few words of an original text or using graphics without attribution.
• 📝 To avoid plagiarism, always provide citations, especially for ideas that are not common knowledge.

Q & A

What is the definition of plagiarism according to the Oxford English Dictionary?

Plagiarism is defined as the action or practice of taking someone else's work, ideas, etc., and passing them off as one's own, also referred to as literary theft.

What are some common reasons students commit plagiarism?

Students often plagiarize due to time pressure, feeling that it isn't a big deal, believing that others write better than they do, and uncertainty about what plagiarism entails.

What are the consequences of plagiarism?

Consequences can be severe, including failing a research paper, failing a course, or even expulsion from the institution.

How can one avoid plagiarism when quoting from a source?

To avoid plagiarism when quoting, you should use quotation marks, provide a reference, and include the source in your bibliography.

Is it plagiarism to use a chart or graphic from the internet without attribution?

Yes, using any content, including charts or graphics, without proper attribution is considered plagiarism, as it is the intellectual property of the creator.

What should you do if you want to use an idea from another author?

You can use an idea from another author only if you create a citation to indicate that the idea is not yours; otherwise, it is considered stealing.

What constitutes common knowledge, and can it be used without citation?

Common knowledge refers to information widely known and found in several sources. This can be used without citation since it doesn't depend on a single original source.

How can paraphrasing lead to plagiarism?

Paraphrasing can lead to plagiarism if the structure and idea sequence of the original text are retained while only a few words are changed, which does not sufficiently transform the content.

What is intellectual property, and why is it important in the context of plagiarism?

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, such as ideas and expressions. Respecting intellectual property is crucial because using someone else's work without permission or citation is plagiarism.

What should one do when in doubt about whether to cite a source?

When in doubt, it is best to provide a citation. This helps ensure that you give proper credit and avoid the risk of plagiarism.