Unintentional plagiarism
Unintentional plagiarism
October 5, 2012
When I was in school and writing essays, nothing stressed me out more than making sure I was citing my information properly. I’d insert source references whenever I felt I was using someone else’s words, ideas, photos, or concepts. It always made for a very long bibliography but, in my opinion, it was worth the extra work.
I knew what plagiarism was and—more importantly—I knew how to avoid it. A few people I knew weren’t so lucky. They actually plagiarized unintentionally! You may be thinking: “What? How can plagiarism be unintentional?”
Well, it always came down to not citing sources properly. So many of my friends and classmates knew how to define what plagiarism was—they just didn’t know how to cite reference material correctly. Plagiarism comes with all sorts of consequences, from failing an assignment or failing a course, to being completely removed from a program.
While there are several different ways to cite material, it usually comes down to the style of essay you’re writing, the subject matter, and your instructor’s preference. At the end of the day, it’s your responsibility to educate yourself on how to avoid plagiarism by following the structure, format, and all the tiny nuances that make citation an art form.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you write your next paper:
- No, you cannot just rewrite the author’s idea and put it into your own words. If you paraphrase an idea, you have to cite it.
- Don’t just rely on the bibliography to give credit to an author. Be sure to refer to your sources throughout the body of the paper too.
- It’s always better to over-reference than to be selective about what you cite. While some facts you use may be considered common knowledge that don’t need citation, it’s always a good idea to check with your professor.
- Not sure how to cite? Visit your campus library or student guidance office. They’ll be able to provide you with resources you can use.
Essays can be a fun way to showcase your knowledge on a particular subject, but always give credit where credit is due!