Plagiarism
Information available at http://www.plagiarism.org/
Definition:
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 :
· use (another's production) without crediting the source intransitive verb :
· to commit literary theft: present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.
("plagiarism." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010.Merriam-Webster Online. 22 February 2010
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarism)
Plagiarism refers to a form of cheating that has been defined as the "false assumption of authorship; the wrongful act of taking the product of another person's mind, and presenting it as one's own." (MLA Handbook, 26).
In the United States original ideas are considered intellectual property and are protected by copyright laws, just like inventions and logos. To prevent plagiarizing you should do the following:
o If you are unsure about something check with your instructor.
o Take good notes and thoroughly record the sources of those notes.
o When in doubt cite the source.
o Know how to correctly paraphrase.
o Distinguish between primary and secondary sources.
o Try to establish a division between your ideas and those taken from your sources.
Preparing an outline may be useful.
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 :
· use (another's production) without crediting the source intransitive verb :
· to commit literary theft: present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.
("plagiarism." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010.Merriam-Webster Online. 22 February 2010
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarism)
Plagiarism refers to a form of cheating that has been defined as the "false assumption of authorship; the wrongful act of taking the product of another person's mind, and presenting it as one's own." (MLA Handbook, 26).
In the United States original ideas are considered intellectual property and are protected by copyright laws, just like inventions and logos. To prevent plagiarizing you should do the following:
o If you are unsure about something check with your instructor.
o Take good notes and thoroughly record the sources of those notes.
o When in doubt cite the source.
o Know how to correctly paraphrase.
o Distinguish between primary and secondary sources.
o Try to establish a division between your ideas and those taken from your sources.
Preparing an outline may be useful.
