Plagiarism

What Is Plagiarism?

"Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by incorporating it into your work without full acknowledgement. All published and unpublished material, whether in manuscript, printed or electronic form, is covered under this definition. Plagiarism may be intentional or reckless, or unintentional. Under the regulations for examinations, intentional or reckless plagiarism is a disciplinary offence." 

Credit:
Plagiarism. University of Oxford. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/plagiarism

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Why Does Plagiarism Matter?

"Plagiarism is a breach of academic integrity. It is a principle of intellectual honesty that all members of the academic community should acknowledge their debt to the originators of the ideas, words, and data which form the basis for their own work. Passing off another’s work as your own is not only poor scholarship, but also means that you have failed to complete the learning process. Plagiarism is unethical and can have serious consequences for your future career; it also undermines the standards of your institution and of the degrees it issues. "

Credit:
Plagiarism. University of Oxford. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/plagiarism

Why Should You Avoid Plagiarism?

"There are many reasons to avoid plagiarism. You have come to university to learn to know and speak your own mind, not merely to reproduce the opinions of others - at least not without attribution. At first it may seem very difficult to develop your own views, and you will probably find yourself paraphrasing the writings of others as you attempt to understand and assimilate their arguments. However it is important that you learn to develop your own voice. You are not necessarily expected to become an original thinker, but you are expected to be an independent one - by learning to assess critically the work of others, weigh up differing arguments and draw your own conclusions. Students who plagiarise undermine the ethos of academic scholarship while avoiding an essential part of the learning process.

You should avoid plagiarism because you aspire to produce work of the highest quality. Once you have grasped the principles of source use and citation, you should find it relatively straightforward to steer clear of plagiarism. Moreover, you will reap the additional benefits of improvements to both the lucidity and quality of your writing. It is important to appreciate that mastery of the techniques of academic writing is not merely a practical skill, but one that lends both credibility and authority to your work, and demonstrates your commitment to the principle of intellectual honesty in scholarship."

Credit:
Plagiarism. University of Oxford. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/plagiarism

Wait, Does This Mean I Shouldn't Use the Work of Other Authors?

"On the contrary, it is vital that you situate your writing within the intellectual debates of your discipline. Academic essays almost always involve the use and discussion of material written by others, and, with due acknowledgement and proper referencing, this is clearly distinguishable from plagiarism. The knowledge in your discipline has developed cumulatively as a result of years of research, innovation and debate. You need to give credit to the authors of the ideas and observations you cite. Not only does this accord recognition to their work, it also helps you to strengthen your argument by making clear the basis on which you make it. Moreover, good citation practice gives your reader the opportunity to follow up your references, or check the validity of your interpretation."

Credit:
Plagiarism. University of Oxford. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/plagiarism

How Do I Avoid Plagiarism?

You can avoid plagiarism by:

Credit:
George, T. (2022, August 5). How to avoid plagiarism: Tips on citing sources. Scribbr. Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://www.scribbr.com/plagiarism/how-to-avoid-plagiarism/


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