The Problems and Pitfalls of Plagiarism - A Student Guide to Success

CCBC Instructional Media・2 minutes read

Plagiarism is using someone else's thoughts, ideas, or words without credit, with reasons including laziness or lack of confidence. To avoid it, students should correctly paraphrase, quote, or summarize while crediting the original source.

Insights

  • Plagiarism involves stealing someone else's ideas without giving credit, often stemming from laziness, lack of time, or cultural differences.
  • To prevent plagiarism, students must correctly paraphrase, quote, or summarize information, ensuring that the original source is always acknowledged. Teachers prioritize original thinking alongside proper citation practices.

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Recent questions

  • What is plagiarism?

    Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's ideas, words, or thoughts without giving them proper credit, which is considered dishonest and akin to stealing.

  • Why do people plagiarize?

    People may plagiarize due to reasons such as laziness, lack of time, poor time management, lack of confidence in their own work, or cultural differences in understanding what constitutes plagiarism.

  • How can students avoid plagiarism?

    Students can avoid plagiarism by correctly paraphrasing, quoting, or summarizing borrowed information, always ensuring to credit the original source. It is important to use quotations sparingly, especially when the original wording is powerful or highly technical.

  • What is paraphrasing?

    Paraphrasing involves restating another person's words in your own words to avoid plagiarism while still conveying the original idea. It is crucial to avoid using identical wording and to include the author's name and date when paraphrasing.

  • Why is expressing original thoughts important?

    While citing sources is essential, expressing original thoughts and ideas is equally important as teachers value creativity and critical thinking. It is crucial to credit sources but also to present your own opinions and insights in academic work.

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Summary

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Preventing Plagiarism: Tips for Proper Attribution

  • Plagiarism is using someone else's thoughts, ideas, or words without proper credit, which is considered stealing and dishonest.
  • People plagiarize due to laziness, lack of time, poor time management, lack of confidence, or cultural differences in understanding plagiarism.
  • To avoid plagiarism, students should paraphrase, quote, or summarize borrowed information correctly, always crediting the original source.
  • Quotations should be used sparingly, especially when the original wording is powerful or highly technical.
  • Paraphrasing involves restating another person's words in your own words to avoid plagiarism.
  • Summarizing is condensing information from a source, ensuring to rephrase it in your own words to prevent plagiarism.
  • When paraphrasing or summarizing, it's crucial to avoid using identical wording, maintain the original idea, and include the author's name and date.
  • Teachers value original thoughts and ideas, so while citing sources is essential, expressing your own opinions is equally important.
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