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How Not to Stress About Writing
What is My Professor Looking For?
Where Can I Go to Get Resources?
How to get a handle on the big picture
Proofreading for yourself
Documentation styles
How to Avoid Plagiarism
Twenty Questions for Research Writing
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Writing Handbook
How to Avoid Plagiarism
Often, plagiarism happens by accident, for a number of reasons.
A student may come from a culture where views on plagiarism are
different or simply not know how to document sources properly. The
following are some suggestions for avoiding unintentional plagiarism.
(1.) Start by taking honest notes, on note cards, putting ideas
into your own
words or using direct quotes that are clearly noted, so you won’t
forget to
cite them in your paper. It will be much more difficult to create
an honest
paper if you simply highlight sources because you haven’t taken
the time to
think about the ideas in your own words.
(2.) Be sure to cite ideas that are paraphrased in your paper as
well as direct
quotes.
(3.) See the section on documentation styles in this handbook;
pick a style and
be consistent throughout your paper.
(4.) Work on analyzing and synthesizing the material from your
sources. The
Twenty Questions for Research Writing listed at the end of this
handbook
will help you do this. Once you have discovered the purpose of your
paper,
you can begin to develop your own language with which to discuss
the
ideas of others honestly.
A Note On Plagiarism
According to Keith Hjortshoj (2001), the word plagiarism derives
from the Latin for kidnapping (p. 172). He argues that “…the
origin of
the word conveys the seriousness of such offenses in the view of
college teachers and administrators” (Hjorsthoj, 2001, p. 172).
He continues: The reason is that words, ideas, and research are
the main forms of currency in academic life. Because they represent
the “intellectual property” with which scholars have built
their careers, using that property without permission or credit
is a form of larceny. Teachers also assume that the writing and
other work students turn in is the product of their own effort,
and because grades (another form of academic currency) are based
on that work, “borrowing” language and ideas from someone
else constitutes cheating.
As a consequence, all colleges and universities include warnings
against plagiarism among their published rules for academic conduct,
along with the procedures and penalties that result from breaking
those rules. Because such regulations are usually strict and often
unfamiliar to new students, you should read them carefully to make
sure you know what practices are prohibited. The most serious forms
of plagiarism can lead to failure in a course, notice of misconduct
on one’s academic record, and even suspension.
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