PLAGIARISM

In my short stint as an instructor for business subjects, I required my students to conduct a mini-research on certain topics. I noticed their "copy and paste" attitude in their work. Thus, I reminded them of plagiarism.

However, I was amazed to know that they do not fully understand what plagiarism is all about. Further, I was amazed when they commented that the other professors before me allowed them to do it.

"HUH???"...was their chorus reply...added with "What's plagiarism ma'am??"

Plagiarism is claiming someone else's work to be your own. Worse, it is copying in part or in full the work of another person without giving due credit to that person. This act of stealing someone else's ideas can be penalized. Hence, proper citation must be observed.

In short, plagiarism is a form of dishonesty. An unethical practice whether intentionally or unintentionally done. Would you want someone to steal your work?  If not, cite the sources of the information or data you use for your consumption.  Citing them does not take a lot of time.  Rather, its an act of properly acknowledging who is the real source of the said work.

Honestly is still the best policy.  Being dishonest will just lead you to disgrace, shame and loss of what you consider your own, worse it maybe your job.

I really like the caricatures featured at www.cartoonstock.com. This hub has no intention to promote or whatsoever purposes for citing their website. I just wanted to really cite the real sources of the cartoons that I have used in this page. More importantly, I want to impart to you how simple plagiarism was defined through the caricatures. Plagiarism is being equated to Stealing.

Penalties for plagiarism may vary in every institutional setting. Let me cite to you the following:

• "The penalties for plagiarism at CSU (Colorado State University) , and most other academic institutions, depend upon the degree of gravity in the charge. Should you be found guilty, the least severe consequence is an "F" on an individual paper. Failing an entire course is also a possibility and, and in cases where the charge is extremely grave, expulsion from the university." http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/researchsources/understandingplagiarism/penalties.cfm

• "University of West Georgia Department of English : Each incidence of plagiarism is subject to review and consideration by the instructor, and is subject to a range of penalties including but not limited to failing the assignment, failing the course, and referral to the disciplinary review board (which may ultimately result in the expulsion, suspension, or disciplinary removal of the student from the university)." http://www.westga.edu/~engdept/Plagiarism/plapen.html

In the corporate setting, the worse thing to happen is the loss of one's job and credibility as a writer. Hence, it is very important to be familiar of the rules in writing and proper citation.

 Try to visit the following sites for more detailed information about this topic.

• http://www.plagiarism.org/
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/

I believe nobody has the intention to plagiarize. But mistakes in giving proper credit to the real source still happens. This is because of the advent of the internet, where it become a more popular source of information. However, it must be noted that the rules in citing a printed source also applies to citing sources from the web, whether the cited material is in text or in graphics form. Thus, it would be helpful to know some tips on how to avoid it.

Based on the safety tips enumerated at "The Owl at Purdue" one of the best practices to avoid plagiarism is to "mark someone else's words with a big Q, for quote, or use big quotation marks".

Another suggestion from the website of Indiana University is to paraphrase accurately, that is, you are not just rearranging or replacing a few words.

Lastly, and most importantly, is to cite your source(s) even if you already have placed the needed quotation marks and/or you have accurately paraphrased the original text.

IN SHORT...CITE...CITE...CITE accurately your sources...

This link http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml#strategies enumerates simple to follow steps in avoiding plagiarism.