- Plagiarism.org offers the following explanation of plagiarism:
Many people think of plagiarism as copying another’s work, or borrowing someone else’s original ideas. But terms like “copying” and “borrowing” seem to disguise the seriousness of the offense.According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 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.
In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else’s work 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 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)
The good news is that 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.
- CHS Policy on Plagiarism
- The CHS Student Handbook states the following under the heading “Honesty and Integrity in Academics:” “According to Coventry School District Policy it is expected that all students will demonstrate honesty and integrity in their academic work. Work that is submitted in a dishonest fashion will not be accepted and dishonest behavior will be subject to disciplinary actions. A copy of this policy is on file in the school and district offices. Teachers will document the first infraction and send it to the appropriate Assistant Principal.”
- Tips on How to Avoid Plagiarism
- A national survey published in Education Week found that 54% of students admitted to plagiarizing from the internet; 74% of students admitted that at least once during the past school year they had engaged in “serious” cheating; and 47% of students believe their teachers sometimes choose to ignore students who are cheating.CHS students are encouraged to speak to their teachers if they are having trouble completing assignments. Good communication between teachers and students is the best way to avoid students feeling that they need to resort to plagiarism to be successful.Visit www.Plagiarism.org for multiple ways to avoid compromising your academic integrity, risking losing credit and facing punishment for cheating.