What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of others and passing them off as your
own. Plagiarism is a type of intellectual theft.

Plagiarism can take many forms, from deliberate cheating to accidentally

copying from a source without acknowledgement. Consequently, whenever
you use the words or ideas of another person in your work, you must
acknowledge where they came from.

Three steps to learning about

plagiarism
It's important to know what plagiarism is, and what form it takes. It's also
important to know how plagiarism happens. The final step is to develop
effective academic skills. Many students who plagiarize do so
unintentionally, often because they don't have the academic skills to avoid
over-reliance on the work of others or because they aren't sure what
constitutes plagiarism.

Why do I need to know about

plagiarism?
One of the contradictions of academic writing is that, while you are expected
to research and refer to experts and authorities, you are also expected to
produce original work. This is based on the assumption that you are very
clear about your own ideas and about how the works of other scholars have
influenced your understanding.

It is important to recognize that all scholarship involves understanding,

researching and building on existing research to some degree.
Undergraduates, for instance, often base their assignments on selecting,
ordering, summarizing and interpreting what others have said to support their
own academic arguments. Therefore, it is important to learn how to reference
well; that is, how to consciously and clearly acknowledge the sources you
have used in your work. Then your own contribution can be clearly identified
and appreciated.

As part of an academic community, and thereby benefiting from your

membership, you are expected to abide by its ethical practices. It is partly this
tradition of acknowledgement of sources, in the form of ‘in-text’
citation or footnotes that separates academic writing from other forms of
knowledge: it is a part of the strength of academic research.

Why is it wrong to plagiarize?

Plagiarism is unethical for three reasons.

 Firstly, it is unethical because it is a form of theft. By taking the ideas

and words of others and pretending they are your own, you are stealing
someone else’s intellectual property.
 Secondly, it is unethical because the plagiarizer subsequently benefits
from this theft.
 Thirdly, a degree is evidence of its holder’s abilities and knowledge. If a
student gains employment on the basis of a qualification they have not
earned, they may be a risk to others.

No doubt some students do cheat. They deliberately take the results of other
people’s hard work, use it to gain credit for themselves, and learn little or
nothing in the process. But most cases of plagiarism are accidental, and could
be avoided if students become more conscious of their own writing and
research practices. Most students who plagiarize do so unintentionally,
usually because they don't have the skills to avoid over-reliance on the work
of others or because they aren't sure what constitutes plagiarism. Both
intentional AND unintentional plagiarism are violations of Plagiarism Policy.
Why is Referencing Important?
Citations are not used simply to avoid
plagiarism; they have other important
roles too.
Referencing allows you to acknowledge the contribution of other writers and
researcher in your work. Any university assignments that draw on the ideas,
words or research of other writers must contain citations.

Referencing is also a way to give credit to the writers from whom you have
borrowed words and ideas. By citing the work of a particular scholar you
acknowledge and respect the intellectual property rights of that researcher. As
a student (or an academic) you can draw on any of the millions of ideas,
insights and arguments published by other writers, many of whom have spent
years researching and writing. All you need to do is acknowledge their
contribution to your assignment.

Referencing is a way to provide evidence to support the assertions and claims

in your own assignments. By citing experts in your field, you are showing your
marker that you are aware of the field in which you are operating. Your
citations map the space of your discipline, and allow you to navigate your way
through your chosen field of study, in the same way that sailors steer by the
stars.

References should always be accurate, allowing your readers to trace the

sources of information you have used. The best way to make sure you
reference accurately is to keep a record of all the sources you used when
reading and researching for an assignment.

Citations also make your writing more persuasive.

Exercise: Look at the two paragraphs below: which one seems more
authoritative?

Paragraph two

Paragraph one

The importance, or otherwise, of

The importance, or otherwise, of
lyrics in popular music, and academic
approaches to song lyrics, is subject
to much debate. The supposed ‘poor’
standard or presumed
meaninglessness of popular music
lyrics, become a means to critique
popular music. Conversely, it could
be argued that too much attention is
given to a song’s lyrics, to the point
where the music itself is overlooked;
it is also possible to overestimate the
degree to which the music listener
actually listens to the words, or
perceives them to be the site of
meaning in a song. Nonetheless,
Simon Frith suggests that lyrics do
allow songs to be ‘used in particular
ways’: lyrics facilitate certain ‘creative
articulations’. In the case of protest
music, the lyrics allow a song to be
made to speak to political issues.
lyrics in popular music, and academic
approaches to song lyrics, is subject
to much debate (Frith, 1998;
Shepherd, 1999; Fornas, 2003). The
supposed ‘poor’ standard or
presumed meaninglessness of
popular music lyrics, become a
means to critique popular music.
Conversely, it could be argued that
too much attention is given to a
song’s lyrics, to the point where the
music itself is overlooked; it is also
possible to overestimate the degree
to which the music listener actually
listens to the words, or perceives
them to be the site of meaning in a
song (Shepherd, 1999:172).
Nonetheless, Simon Frith suggests
that lyrics do allow songs to be ‘used
in particular ways’ (cited in Martin,
1995:273): lyrics facilitate certain
‘creative articulations’ (Johnson,
2000). In the case of protest music,
the lyrics allow a song to be made to
speak to political issues.

The paragraphs are identical, except for the absence of citations from
paragraph 1.

The first paragraph may be just as interesting as the second, but within an
academic context, a context that requires you to show from where you have
taken ideas, the second has far more authority, it is more persuasive. It shows
that the ideas you are discussing are matters that are important to your
particular academic community.

What kind of information do I need to reference?

Printed books are not the only sources that require acknowledgement. ANY
words, ideas or information taken from ANY source requires a reference.

Reference when you are using words or ideas from:

 books and journal articles;

 newspapers and magazines;
 pamphlets or brochures;
 films, documentaries, television programs or advertisements;
 websites or electronic resources;
 letters, emails, online discussion forums;
 personal interviews;
 lecturers or tutors (not always necessary, but check with your lecturer or
tutor about their preferences before you draw on their ideas).
 Reference when you reprint any diagrams, illustrations, charts or
pictures.

No need to reference:

 when you are writing your own observations or experiment results (for
example, a report on a field trip);
 when you are writing about your own experiences (for example, a
reflective journal);
 when you are writing your own thoughts, comments or conclusions in an
assignment;
 when you are evaluating or offering your own analysis;
 when you are using 'common knowledge' (facts that can be found in
numerous places and are likely to be known by a lot of people) or
folklore;
 when you are using generally accepted facts or information (this will
vary in different disciplines of study. If in doubt, ask your tutor).