What is plagiarism?

Many people think of plagiarism as copying another's work, or borrowing someone else's original ideas. But terms like "copying" and "borrowing" can disguise the seriousness of the offense:

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (and NHRHS), to "plagiarize" means

●to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own

●to use (another's production) without crediting the source

●to commit literary theft

●to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source (which could be you)!

In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work (or work that you already completed for another class) and lying about it afterward.

But can words and ideas really be stolen?

According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).

All of the following are considered plagiarism:

●turning in someone else's work as your own

●copying words or ideas (or images) from someone else without giving credit

●failing to put a quotation in quotation marks

●giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation

●changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit

●copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (see our section on "fair use" rules)

Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism.

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So -- how can I avoid plagiarism?

  1. Know the definition of plagiarism at Northern Highlands. The Northern Highlands Academic Integrity Policy defines plagiarism as “appropriating another’s work and using it as your own without appropriate attribution and citation.” Check with your teachers to determine whether collaboration with other students is permitted and what your teachers expect of your Works Cited. Remember that all ideas and work must be cited.
  1. Take good notes. Develop strategies such as note cards or spreadsheet files that will help you keep track of sources, authors, URLs, and other important information as you work.
  1. Paraphrase carefully.Try not to use more than one or two important words from the original source when you paraphrase material (and remember to cite that source even if your material isn’t in quotation marks).
  1. Learn to attribute correctly.At Northern Highlands we mostly use the Modern Language Association format for citing outside sources. Your teachers will give you all the appropriate formatting information, which may include different style choices..
  1. Leave plenty of time. Don’t get caught behind a deadline—most plagiarism occurs when students feel desperate or rushed.
  1. Make sure you understand the assignment. Ask questions in advance that will help you avoid the feeling of being “lost” or overwhelmed.
  1. Research wisely. Use your research skills for more than a quick web search. Learn how to use search engines and the library to find the best possible sources for your projects.
  1. Create your Works Cited as you work. Type your Works Cited as you find sources rather than waiting until the final draft of your paper. There are many websites that can help you format a Works Cited quickly and easily. NoodleTools is effective and clear.
  1. Double-check your papers. Use a search engine or free plagiarism detection software to check your own papers before you hand them in.
  1. Take the assignment personally.Try to make assignments important to you. Where possible, tweak topics or arguments to put your own spin on them. Look for what you can learn from the project, not just for the grade you’ll receive.

Parts of this document were written by Barry Gilmore of Heinemann Publishers and adapted by Northern Highlands for use here.