Plagiarism: What Is It? stopping plagiarism

1. Plagiarism: What Is It? stopping plagiarism Plagiarism is the act of passing off another person’s words or ideas as your own. It can be intentional or accidental, and it almost always comes with consequences. While we all have probably unintentionally copied a friend on an assignment or two in our lives, plagiarism is a serious offense in academic settings, and can even result in expulsion if you are caught red-handed. To avoid getting caught while also avoiding having to do that same research assignment again, here are some tips on how to avoid plagiarism when writing a paper or any other kind of assignment. Plagiarism can take many forms; make sure you understand what each one means before you start writing your next essay! Double Check Your Sources Any time you use someone else’s words, you run the risk of getting in trouble for plagiarism. The best way to avoid this is to make sure your sources are actually valid. - Did you type the name of the author into a search engine to make sure they exist? - Did you find the book in a library, online, or in a bookstore? - Did you look up the date the piece was published? - Did you check the author’s source notes, bibliography, or other citations to make sure they’re real? If you can’t find any information about the source, you can’t use it!

2. Quote With Caution It may sound counterintuitive, but one of the most common forms of plagiarism is unquoting. If you are using a direct quote, be sure to cite it as such. - Did you put the words in parentheses? - Did you put the words in single quotation marks? - Did you put the words in double quotation marks? If you used a direct quote, you should include a citation for the source. - Did you list the name of the author? - Did you list the name of the editor? - Did you list the name of the publisher? - Did you give the name of the webpage or publication date? Turn in Everything You Write The best way to ensure that you do not accidentally plagiarize is to turn in everything you write. If you turn in a paper that you wrote by hand, it will be obvious if you accidentally copied something. If you turn in a paper that you wrote on a computer, it will be obvious if you accidentally copied something. - Did you turn in your rough drafts? - Did you turn in your research notes? - Did you turn in any outlines or flow charts you may have made? If you turn in everything you write, it will be obvious if you accidentally copied something. You can also use your drafts to see where you may have accidentally been influenced by another writer. Write Your Own Words Plagiarism isn’t just about using someone else’s exact words; it’s also about regurgitating their ideas. A good way to avoid this is to make sure everything you write is your own. - Did you write original thesis statements? - Did you write original examples for your thesis? - Did you make sure every single sentence is your own? - Did you reword any of the passages you found in your research? If you write your own words, it will be obvious if you accidentally plagiarized another writer. Show Your Work You don’t have to list your sources or use footnotes or a bibliography to avoid plagiarizing. You can just show your work. Make sure you include citations for any information you get from other sources—just in a different form. - Did you write out a timeline? - Did you write out a diagram? - Did you draw a map? If you show your work, it will be obvious if you accidentally copied another writer’s ideas. It will also show your reader that you put a lot of effort into your work. Before the submitted your works check with Plagiarism Checker Summing up There are many ways to plagiarize, so be sure to be on the lookout for them. Any time you use someone else’s words, you run the risk of getting in trouble for plagiarism. The best way to avoid this is to make sure your sources are actually valid. If you are using a direct quote, be sure to cite it as such. If you are quoting another person, make sure you use their exact words and cite them accordingly. If you are paraphrasing another person’s ideas, make sure you put it in your own words and cite them accordingly. If you are showing your work, make sure you cite your sources appropriately. With these tips, you can avoid plagiarism and write an authentic paper! Drillbit help to Plagiarism Checking for your works.