16. Plagiarism

Plagiarism, something that affects us all and I have come to realize that its a big norm here in Asia Pacific College. The first time I saw it happen, I was shocked and amazed that the professors accepted the work of the student without checking the sources. I had come from a school where plagiarism was a very big no no and would lead to suspension and loosing of your diploma.

Before I dwell into plagiarism more, what is plagiarism? Well according to Merriam-webster dictionary, plagiarism is:

• the act of using another persons words or ideas without giving credit to that person: the act of plagiarizing something
• the act of copying the ideas or words of another person without giving credit to that person(s)

Plagiarism encompasses a wide range of actions by merely writing incorrect citations to the theft of someone else s work or ideas in their entirety. There are also two types of plagiarism, one that is deliberate and one that is unintentional. This classification can determine the impact of the offense of the perpetrator. 

Reason students plagiarize:

An article released by Middle Georgia State University outlined the reasons that students in colleges plagiarize. 

1. Writing and Research Skills
• Lack of research skills: College students do not know to how properly research using other forms of sources. This is especially seen in the inability to utilize the books in the library therefore instigating students to use online sources only to which plagiarizing is more prevalent.
• Problems evaluating internet sources: Many students do not know how to critically analyze and evaluate internet sources which then allows them to plagiarize sometimes unknowingly and/or intentionally
• Confusion between plagiarism and paraphrase: Students find it difficult in paraphrasing technical jargon to which they are not familiar with. This leads to plagiarism in their work. Just remember if ever you need to paraphrase something, you must cite the necessary source(s).
• Careless note taking:If careless note taking of direct quotes and phrases are done in the initial research of students work, this could lead to plagiarized work. As the students will find it difficult to distinguish between the quoted words or phrases and their own thoughts and ideas. It is important to have a proper note taking technique
• Confusion about how to properly cite sources: Always cite your sources where need be and stick to one format in a paper. Use either MLA or APA format when citing work and keep it parallel.
2. Misunderstanding Key Concepts
• Misconception of plagiarism: Plagiarism is not only the theft of someone else 'written work'; it is also the theft of another persons ideas whether spoken or written.
• Misconception of intellectual property, copyright and public domain: Students may find it hard to differentiate between what is public domain and can be used by all and what needs cited. I rule of thumb I always follow is that if you needed any form of the scope, then it must be cited.
• Misconception of common knowledge: Many students have the misconception that online sources are public domain and therefore do not need to be cited. However all sources must be cited. This leads to improper citation of online scholarly journals and articles.
3. External Factors
• Pressure from family, competition for scholarships ad jobs: Many families can easily relate to this as a major pressure to quickly get the work done in order to not disappoint ones family or school. When the work load gets too much sometimes, students under a lot of pressure have a greater tendency to plagiarize.
• Student ethics and relationships with the College: The relationship between college and student is important because it establishes the moral ethics and guidelines that influences a students daily decisions. A student may loose what the purpose of education is by aiming for a grade instead of aiming to learn. This culture instigates the act of plagiarism as students do not want to feel like they will get low grades
4. Internal Factors
• Poor time management and organizational skills: Students often have very poor time management and procrastinate their work. When the deadline draws closer, they opt to plagiarize work because of the restraint of time.

 Therefore it is important that we always be truthful in our work. Cite sources where need be and do not plagiarize. Plagiarism is a crime of intellectual property.

External Links

http://www.mga.edu/student-success-center/plagiarism/why.aspx

http://www.ithenticate.com/resources/6-consequences-of-plagiarism