Plagiarism
What is Plagiarism?
| Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism |
More Information | Websites
for Teachers
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is stealing. If you use someone else's words or ideas
without giving your source(s) proper credit, you are plagiarizing. It is
such a serious offense that most colleges and universities impose severe
penalties for anyone guilty of plagiarizing such as failing the course
involved or even being expelled from the institution. Here at New York
Military Academy, it is an Honor Code violation: "A cadet will not lie,
cheat or steal or tolerate those who do."
While the most obvious type of plagiarism is using material copied word
for word from a published source (print or online) without using quotation
marks and without proper attribution, other examples of plagiarism
include the following:
- Paraphrasing someone else's words, opinions or ideas without
acknowledging the source;
- Using graphics such as tables of statistics and other data,
charts, and images without appropriate acknowledgement;
- Having someone else write the paper for you, either for pay or for
free;
- Turning in someone else's paper with or without the person's
knowledge;
- Turning in a pre-written paper purchased from a web site or
through the mail;
- Turning in a paper downloaded from a free term paper web site.
Tips for Avoiding
Plagiarism
- Whenever you use information that is not your own, you must
acknowledge your source. Therefore, always provide a citation when you
use any of the following:
- direct quotations
- paraphrases and summaries
- someone else's ideas or opinions
- facts that are not common knowledge
- The best way to avoid plagiarism is to use your own words. Keep
direct quotations to a minimum.
- Take careful notes, and always include the complete bibliographic
citation (where you found the information). Hint: When taking
notes, avoid writing in complete sentences; rather, put only the facts
or main points in your notes (b. 1908, d. 2000). This will help force
you to write your paper in your own words.
- If you cut and paste notes from online sources, make sure you also
include the complete source of the information (author, title,
publication date, URL or Internet address and the date you view the
source).
- Learn how to cite sources correctly. Use the examples in the NYMA
Format
Guide for Research Papers or the style guides available
at the library. Ask your teacher or the librarian for help.
- You will never have a problem if you have too many citations so,
when in doubt, cite your source!
More Information
Check out the following websites for more information about plagiarism
and how to avoid it.
-
Avoiding Plagiarism
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/research/r_plagiar.html
Suggestions from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
(OWL).
-
Canandaigua Academy Research Manual: Plagiarism
http://www.canandaiguaschools.org/academy.cfm?sublevel=142&subpage=104&subsubpage=109
Examples of different kinds of plagiarism (word for word, patchwork,
etc.) and how to correct them.
- How
to Avoid Plagiarism
http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/plagiar.html
Helpful information and suggestions from Northwestern University.
-
Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It.
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml
Practical information from the Writing Tutorial Services,
Indiana University.
- What
is Plagiarism?
http://www11.georgetown.edu/programs/gervase/hc/plagiarism.html
A document packed with useful information compiled by the Honor
Council of Georgetown University.
Websites for Teachers
The following websites provide helpful information on detecting
plagiarism and suggestions for constructing assignments to discourage the
practice.
| Updated
June 30, 2008
|
Booth Library |
| |
New York Military Academy |
| |
Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY 12520 |
|
http://www.nymacadets.net/plagiarism.htm |
|
