Hello, I am Himanshi Parmar, student of MK Bhavnagar University. This blog i have written as a response to Thinking Activity, Which is a Part of my academic Work. Which we get after each unit. In this blog, i am going to discuss about some questions related Plagiarism and Academic Integrity.
What is plagiarism? Write in detail with its consequences and forms.
Definitions
According to Oxford Dictionary,
"Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own."
According to Cambridge Dictionary,
Plagiarism is the process or practice of using another person's ideas or work and pretending that it is your own.
According to Marriam Webster Dictionary,
plagiarize is “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own: use (another's production) without crediting the source [… or] to commit literary theft: present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.”
Origin of the word 'Plagiarism'.
About Plagiarism
Watch one interesting Ted - Ed video on plagiarism.
Plagiarism is the fraudulent representation of another person's language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions as one's own original work.While precise definitions vary, depending on the institution, such representations are generally considered to violate academic integrity and journalistic ethics as well as social norms of learning, teaching, research, fairness, respect and responsibility in many cultures. It is subject to sanctions such as penalties, suspension, expulsion from schoo or work, substantial fines and even imprisonment.
Plagiarism is typically not in itself a crime, but like counterfeiting, fraud can be punished in a court for prejudices caused by copyright infringement, violation of moral rights, or torts. In academia and industry, it is a serious ethical offense. Plagiarism and copyright infringement overlap to a considerable extent, but they are not equivalent concepts,and many types of plagiarism do not constitute copyright infringement, which is defined by copyright law and may be adjudicated by courts. Read more.
consequences of plagiarism
The consequences of plagiarism can be personal, professional, ethical, and legal. With plagiarism detection software so readily available and in use, plagiarists are being caught at an alarming rate. Once accused of plagiarism, a person will most likely always be regarded with suspicion. Ignorance is not an excuse. Plagiarists include academics, professionals, students, journalists, authors, and others.
1) Destroyed Student Reputation
Plagiarism allegations can cause a student to be suspended or expelled. Their academic record can reflect the ethics offense, possibly causing the student to be barred from entering college from high school or another college. Schools, colleges, and universities take plagiarism very seriously. Most educational institutions have academic integrity committees who police students. Many schools suspend students for their first violation. Students are usually expelled for further offences.
2) Destroyed Professional Reputation
A professional business person, politician, or public figure may find that the damage from plagiarism follows them for their entire career. Not only will they likely be fired or asked to step down from their present position, but they will surely find it difficult to obtain another respectable job. Depending on the offense and the plagiarist’s public stature, his or her name may become ruined, making any kind of meaningful career impossible.
3) Destroyed Academic Reputation
The consequences of plagiarism have been widely reported in the world of academia. Once scarred with plagiarism allegations, an academic’s career can be ruined. Publishing is an integral part of a prestigious academic career. To lose the ability to publish most likely means the end of an academic position and a destroyed reputation.
4) Legal Repercussions
The legal repercussions of plagiarism can be quite serious. Copyright laws are absolute. One cannot use another person’s material without citation and reference. An author has the right to sue a plagiarist. Some plagiarism may also be deemed a criminal offense, possibly leading to a prison sentence. Those who write for a living, such as journalists or authors, are particularly susceptible to plagiarism issues. Those who write frequently must be ever-vigilant not to err. Writers are well-aware of copyright laws and ways to avoid plagiarism. As a professional writer, to plagiarize is a serious ethical and perhaps legal issue.
5) Monetary Repercussions
Many recent news reports and articles have exposed plagiarism by journalists, authors, public figures, and researchers. In the case where an author sues a plagiarist, the author may be granted monetary restitution. In the case where a journalist works for a magazine, newspaper or other publisher, or even if a student is found plagiarizing in school, the offending plagiarist could have to pay monetary penalties.
6) Plagiarized Research
Plagiarized research is an especially egregious form of plagiarism. If the research is medical in nature, the consequences of plagiarism could mean the loss of peoples’ lives. This kind of plagiarism is particularly heinous.
The consequences of plagiarism are far-reaching and no one is immune. Neither ignorance nor stature excuses a person from the ethical and legal ramifications of committing plagiarism. Before attempting any writing project, learn about plagiarism. Find out what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it. The rules are easy to understand and follow. If there is any question about missing attribution, try using an online plagiarism checker or plagiarism detection software to check your writing for plagiarism before turning it in. Laziness or dishonesty can lead to a ruined reputation, the loss of a career, and legal problems. (Reference)
Forms of Plagiarism
There are different types of plagiarism and all are serious violations of academic honesty. Here are all the forms of plagiarism.
1) Repeating and Paraphrasing wording.
When one can take words or paragraph from any text or from any other cite without citing the text or website then it falls under the category of Repeating and paraphrasing wording plagiarism. For example, if we write Virginia Woolf's quote, "Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind." While writing our own ideas. And don't even cite it then it will be problematic.
2)Taking a particular apt phrase.
When we borrowe any phrase or word from any particular website or text, we have cite it. For example when we use phrase, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” from The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkein. We have to cite it, otherwise it will be plagiarism.
3) paraphrasing an argument or presenting a line of thinking.
When we don't take any word or phrase from any text or website but just take ideas of text then also it should be cite otherwise it is plagiarism.
2] How to know Plagiarism and how to avoid it. Explain.
Plagiarism means using someone else’s words or ideas without properly crediting the original author. Sometimes plagiarism involves deliberately stealing someone’s work, but more often it happens accidentally, through carelessness or forgetfulness.When you write an academic paper, you build upon the work of others and use various credible sources for information and evidence.
At its core, plagiarism is an ethical issue. A writer who submits plagiarized work is committing theft with the hope of benefiting from that theft. This is true whether you’re turning in a school paper to get an “A” or are a writer by trade expecting monetary compensation.
Avoiding plagiarism is paramount as a writer because it compromises your integrity. Aside from losing the respect of your mentors and peers, it could cost you valuable professional referrals and future career advancement. Read more
Here are some easy way to avoid plagiarism.
1) Keeping track of the sources you consult in your research.
2) Paraphrasing or quoting from your sources (and adding your own ideas).
3) Crediting the original author in an in-text citation and in your reference list.
4) Using a plagiarism checker before you submit.
5) Include quotations.
6) Present your own idea
For further watch the video given below.
References
