How can I avoid plagiarizing?

Answer

What is plagiarism?

According to Purdue OWL, "Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas or words without giving them proper credit. Plagiarism can range from unintentional (forgetting to include a source in a bibliography) to intentional (buying a paper online, using another writer’s ideas as your own to make your work sound smarter)."

Plagiarism is a serious academic integrity breach and is strictly prohibited at Sullivan University. It includes:

  • Taking and passing off the ideas of another as one's own.
  • Failing to cite an author whose ideas have been incorporated in a paper.
  • Cutting and pasting text from different web sites or databases directly into in paper without giving proper credit.
  • Presenting an idea from an existing source as a new and original idea. This can consist of:
    • using a friend's paper from another class.
    • using an original paper of your own that you have used for another class (without explicit permission from your current instructor).
    • using papers bought or retrieved from the web.

Cheating and Plagiarism may also manifest itself as:

  • failing to cite an author for whose ideas have been incorporated into a student’s paper
  • cutting and pasting different internet web site or database text in a paper or using a purchased paper
  • letting another student to use your work
  • copying another person's work with or without their knowledge
  • using a device like a phone or calculator to store notes, formulae, etc. without instructor permission
  • using notes and/or other aids that are prohibited on an exam
  • submitting the same work to different classes (AKA self-plagiarism)
  • gaining an unfair advantage by any other method

How can I avoid plagiarizing?

To avoid plagiarism issues:

  • Always give proper credit to all sources that you quote or use in your paper (or other type of presentation).
    • The only exceptions are:
      • Your own original thoughts and your original opinions.
      • Dates in history or other facts that are "common knowledge."
  • If you are not certain whether to credit a source, it is usually best to credit the source.
  • Always check with your instructor for clarification.
  • Always give credit if you are using the ideas of a source for your paper, even if you are paraphrasing and not directly quoting a source.

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  • Last Updated Nov 03, 2022
  • Views 119
  • Answered By Jody Ford

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