Avoiding
Plagiarism //

Some practical advice concerning plagiarism

What is it? Plagiarism is the inclusion of ideas and information as someone else has expressed them without clear and specific acknowledgement.

If you incorporate another’s words into your work or otherwise present them as your own without credit or acknowledgement, you are stealing them, that is, you are committing plagiarism.

If you use another’s written or spoken words without enclosing them in quotation marks and giving credit, you are committing plagiarism.

If you paraphrase another’s ideas, lines of reasoning, or theories without giving credit, you are committing plagiarism.

If you use facts not considered common knowledge without giving credit, you are committing plagiarism.

If you pay another, or if you pay a service, for a paper that you represent as your own, you are committing plagiarism.

How do I avoid it? Unintended plagiarism often results from poor planning, careless note-taking, and overreliance on sources. Intended plagiarism results from the belief that dishonesty and theft are acceptable behaviors.

Avoid plagiarism by giving yourself sufficient time to research your topic, outline the steps of your argument, and acknowledge your sources.

Avoid plagiarism by keeping all the notes you take organized, and by meticulously placing in quotes and documenting every phrase you copy from a source.

Avoid plagiarism by relying on yourself to construct a thesis and support it, rather than duplicating the thoughts of someone else.

Avoid plagiarism by enclosing other’s words in quotation marks and consistently citing your sources in one of the recognized standard citation styles.

What are the consequences of plagiarism? Dishonesty and theft diminish everyone and are not tolerated as acceptable behaviors.

Students who plagiarize in the course of work at UArts may face various penalties in accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy.