What is Plagiarism? Its Consequences and Forms

What is Plagiarism? Its Consequences and Forms.

Name: Nilay N. Rathod

Paper 209: Research Methodology

Subject Code: 22416

Batch: M.A. Sem-4 (2021-23)

Roll No: 17

Enrolment No:4069206420210030

Email Address: rathodnilay2017@gmail.com

Submitted to: Department of English, Maharaja

Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

Plagiarism is a type of academic misconduct that involves using someone else's work or ideas without giving proper credit. It is a serious issue that can have significant consequences for individuals, institutions, and even society at large. 

Definition of Plagiarism

The definition of plagiarism varies depending on the context and the institution. According to the MLA Handbook, plagiarism occurs when one "intentionally or unintentionally presents the work of another as one's own". This can include copying and pasting text from a source without attribution, paraphrasing someone else's ideas without proper citation, and even submitting a paper or assignment written by someone else. (Gibaldi).

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines plagiarism as "the act of presenting the words, ideas, or work of another as one's own". This includes "copying or rephrasing another's work" and "using another's ideas, opinions, or theories" without proper citation (APA Publication Manual).

The Chicago Manual of Style defines plagiarism as "the presentation of someone else’s words, ideas, or work as one’s own". This includes "verbatim copying, paraphrasing, or close summarizing of another person's material" without proper attribution (Chicago Manual of Style).

The Council of Writing Program Administrators defines plagiarism as "the use of another's words, ideas, or work without proper attribution". This includes "submitting someone else's work as one's own" and "paraphrasing or summarizing someone else's work without proper citation" (WPA Statement on Best Practices).

What are the Causes of Plagiarism and the Failure to Use and Document Sources Appropriately?

• Students may fear failure or fear taking risks in their own work. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

• Students may have poor time-management skills, or they may plan poorly for the time and effort required for research-based writing, and believe they have no choice but to plagiarize. (Causes of Plagiarism | Kent State University)

• Students may view the course, the assignment, the conventions of academic documentation, or the consequences of cheating as unimportant. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

• Teachers may present students with assignments so generic or unparticularized that students may believe they are justified in looking for canned responses. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

• Instructors and institutions may fail to report cheating when it does occur or may not enforce appropriate penalties. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

Students are not guilty of plagiarism if they attempt to recognise others' contributions in good faith but fail to do so properly or completely. These shortcomings are largely the result of past teaching and learning failures: students lack knowledge of and capacity to follow authorial attribution rules. The following situations and activities may result in texts that appear to be plagiarism as defined by that:

• Students may not know how to integrate the ideas of others and document the sources of those ideas appropriately in their texts. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

• Students will make mistakes as they learn how to integrate others’ words or ideas into their own work because error is a natural part of learning. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

• Students may not know how to take careful and fully documented notes during their research. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

• Academicians and scholars may define plagiarism differently or more stringently than have instructors or administrators in students’ earlier education or in other writing situations. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

• College instructors may assume that students have already learned appropriate academic conventions of research and documentation. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

• College instructors may not support students as they attempt to learn how to research and document sources; instead, instructors may assign writing that requires research and expect its appropriate documentation yet fail to appreciate the difficulty of novice academic writers to execute these tasks successfully. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

• Students from other cultures may not be familiar with the conventions governing attribution and plagiarism in American colleges and universities. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

• In some settings, using other people’s words or ideas as their own is an acceptable practice for writers of certain kinds of texts (for example, organizational documents), making the concepts of plagiarism and documentation less clear cut than academics often acknowledge and thereby confusing students who have not learned that the conventions of source attribution vary in different contexts. (Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism)

Consequences of Plagiarism

The consequences of plagiarism can be severe, both for individuals and for institutions. In academic settings, plagiarism can result in a failing grade, suspension, or even expulsion from the institution. It can also damage an individual's reputation and make it difficult to gain admission to other academic programs or employment opportunities.

Plagiarism can also have serious consequences for institutions. It can damage their reputation and lead to a loss of credibility. In some cases, it can even result in legal action, particularly if the plagiarized material was copyrighted.

The consequences of plagiarism can be severe, both for individuals and for institutions. Plagiarism can result in a failing grade, suspension, or even expulsion from the institution (Roig 15-21). It can also damage an individual's reputation and make it difficult to gain admission to other academic programs or employment opportunities. Plagiarism can also have serious consequences for institutions, leading to a loss of credibility and even legal action if the plagiarized material was copyrighted (Scanlon and Neumann 374-385).

Plagiarism is a type of academic misconduct that can have significant consequences for individuals, institutions, and society. According to the MLA Handbook, plagiarism occurs when one "intentionally or unintentionally presents the work of another as one's own" (Gibaldi). This can include copying and pasting text from a source without attribution, paraphrasing someone else's ideas without proper citation, and even submitting a paper or assignment that was written by someone else.

Forms of Plagiarism

Plagiarism can take many different forms, including copying and pasting text, paraphrasing, using someone else's work, and self-plagiarism. Preventing plagiarism requires a combination of education, technology, and enforcement. Institutions can provide students with clear guidelines on what constitutes plagiarism and how to properly cite sources. They can also provide tools and resources that make it easier for students to properly cite sources and check their work for plagiarism. Technology, such as plagiarism detection software like Turnitin, can also play a role in preventing plagiarism by identifying instances of plagiarism (Turnitin).

The following are some of the most common forms of plagiarism:

Copying and Pasting Text

Copying and pasting text from a source without proper attribution is perhaps the most obvious form of plagiarism. This can occur when a student is writing a paper or assignment and simply copies and pastes text from a website or other source. It can also occur when someone takes text from a source and uses it in a presentation, speech, or other context without giving proper credit.

“Information derived from the Internet must be adequately referenced and included in the bibliography. It is important to evaluate carefully all material found on the Internet, as it is less likely to have been through the same process of scholarly peer review as published sources”. (Plagiarism | University of Oxford)

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing involves taking someone else's ideas and putting them into your own words. While this can be a legitimate way to incorporate someone else's ideas into your own work, it can also be a form of plagiarism if the original source is not properly cited. This is because even if you have put the ideas into your own words, you are still using someone else's intellectual property.

A fleeting mention to the original author in your own material may not be sufficient; you must be careful not to give the impression that the paraphrased phrasing or sequence of thoughts is completely your own. It is preferable to offer a quick summary of the author's overarching point in your own words and indicate that you are doing so rather than paraphrase specific portions of his or her writing. This ensures that you truly understand the point and avoids the difficulties of paraphrasing without plagiarising. Any content derived from lectures must also be appropriately attributed. (Plagiarism | University of Oxford)

Using Someone Else's Work

Using someone else's work without permission or proper attribution is another form of plagiarism. This can include submitting a paper or assignment that was written by someone else, using someone else's data or research without giving proper credit, or even using someone else's artwork or music in a presentation or other context.

Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism occurs when someone uses their own work in a new context without properly citing it. This can include reusing a paper or assignment that was written for a previous class or using data or research that was previously published without giving proper credit. While this may seem less serious than other forms of plagiarism, it is still a violation of academic integrity and can have consequences.

Preventing Plagiarism

Preventing plagiarism requires a combination of education, technology, and enforcement. Institutions can provide students with clear guidelines on what constitutes plagiarism and how to properly cite sources. They can also provide tools and resources that make it easier for students to properly cite sources and check their work for plagiarism. Technology can also play a role in preventing plagiarism. Plagiarism detection software, such as Turnitin, can help identify instances of plagiarism by comparing student work to a database of existing sources. While these tools are not foolproofly, they can help deter students from plagiarizing and provide instructors with a way to detect instances of plagiarism. However, enforcing consequences for plagiarism is an important part of preventing it. This includes setting clear expectations for academic integrity and consequences for violating those expectations. It also involves actively investigating and addressing instances of plagiarism when they occur.

Conclusion

Plagiarism is a serious issue that can have significant consequences for individuals and institutions. It can take many different forms, from copying and pasting text to self-plagiarism. Preventing plagiarism requires a combination of education, technology, and enforcement. By setting clear expectations for academic integrity and providing tools and resources to help students properly cite sources, we can help prevent plagiarism and ensure that academic work is conducted with integrity and honesty.

Works Cited:

About Us | About Turnitin, Our Mission & Values. 1998, https://www.turnitin.com/about.

APA Publication Manual. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, (2020). American Psychological Association, 2019.

Causes of Plagiarism | Kent State University. https://www.kent.edu/writingcommons/causes-plagiarism. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

Chicago Manual of Style. The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition. University of Chicago Press, 2017. University of Chicago Press, https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo25956703.html.

Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices. https://wpacouncil.org/aws/CWPA/pt/sd/news_article/272555/_PARENT/layout_details/false. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Gibaldi, Joseph. Mla Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th edition, Affiliated East-West Press, 2008.

Plagiarism | University of Oxford. https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/plagiarism. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Roig, Miguel. “Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism: What Every Author Should Know.” Biochemia Medica, vol. 20, no. 3, 2010, pp. 295–300.

Scanlon, Patrick M., and David R. Neumann. “Internet Plagiarism among College Students.” Journal of College Student Development, vol. 43, no. 3, 2002, pp. 374–85.

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