Would you like it if someone copies what you have written after months of hard work and late-night researching? No, right? The same goes when you sit to write your own assignments. There is no obligation in taking ideas from others’ assignments but copying them completely may get you into trouble.
In the world of academics copying someone else’s assignment is called “plagiarism” and is highly prohibited. However, there is a “not so fun” fact about plagiarism that it sometimes occurs unintentionally. And this unintentional plagiarism gives a hard time to most students out there. If you are among them, congratulations, you have landed at the right place.
In this article, we will explore everything about plagiarism along with some tips and tricks to avoid it. So without any further ado, let’s jump into the article.
What is Actually Called “Plagiarism”?
Before starting let us explain plagiarism first. In the educational years, most students have been seen asking the question “what is plagiarism actually?” or “if we do not copy then how will we prove the credibility of our research?” So, to make it more convenient for them here’s a detailed explanation that helps you understand plagiarism to a better extent.
To be short and precise, copying someone else’s work or research with or without their consent is called plagiarism. Also, including something from others’ work to make your assignment look more credible without giving the author a credit is also known as plagiarism. It is, however, critical to give proper credit to other authors and provide appropriate references. To make it easy for students there is the permission of some similarity. The similarity index of your study can vary depending on your field and institution, usually, the similarity index is acceptable below 10 percent however in fields like medical and law the similarity index can go up to 20 percent.
Why Does Plagiarism Matter So Much?
To understand why plagiarism matters so much, imagine you come up with a game-changing hypothesis that has the potential to transform the dynamics of your field, and someone else takes your concept and starts spreading it throughout the world without giving you credit. IT’S A SCAM! In research, every thought provided is similar to a ground-breaking theory in that it contributes to the current studies of that topic and even that particular discipline. As a result, failing to cite an author’s work is considered academic dishonesty and is frowned upon. Plagiarism is a breach of discipline, and depending on your school, plagiarising might result in serious consequences.
To conclude, below you will find why citing is a good thing:
- Citing or giving credit to the original author is a great way to add credibility to your assignment. Yes, it actually adds worth to your work but that does not mean you can copy all that other authors have written. To avoid plagiarism, you can paraphrase the information provided with the proper citation.
- Makes it easier for readers to find your sources. A well-cited work aids readers in recognising the sources you used and allowing them to return to those papers to have a deeper understanding of the studies. Making it easier for readers to locate the research and assess the paper’s relevance and accuracy.
- Plagiarism can have serious implications; as a student, you may fail your course, and as an academic writer, your reputation and career may be tainted. You could also face legal consequences if you plagiarise.
What Consequences You Can Face Due to Plagiarism?
Consequences due to plagiarism? Well, to understand it better let’s take the example of one of my acquaintances. To keep the identity, we’ll call him Mike. Mr Mike was a well-known professor and students look forward to him for motivation and assistance. The dissertation he submitted was later found to be plagiarised up to 70%, which is more than what is allowed. What consequences did he have to face? He was waved off from the designation because of academic mismanagement. Plagiarism not only cost him to lose his job but also his reputation got affected. Also, many reputed organisations banned him from submitting his journals.
Plagiarism has some serious effects on your academic reputation that are undeniable. Not just academically, it taints you both on a personal as well as professional level. Authors whose research has been found plagiarised are not allowed to publish their research as reputed journals do not allow authors who have plagiarised content. Also, plagiarism is the main reason why funding agencies reject your proposals. It can cause many legal issues if you are working somewhere on a government level.
Another thing that needs to be addressed here is that plagiarism is not only limited to research projects. Academically, it is prohibited in all the assignments, be it exams, essays, or assignments of other sorts. Restricting students from copying others’ work is to encourage them to do their own work.
Types of Plagiarism
Yes, you have read the right thing. There are several types of plagiarism. We are enlisting the list below for your improved understanding.
Mosaic Plagiarism
This is also known as patchwork plagiarism, and it occurs when ideas and words are taken verbatim from another person’s work without attribution or writing content with synonyms from other authors’ work while maintaining the original’s fundamental structure and meaning.
Automatic Plagiarism
When an author reuses major pieces of someone else’s previously published work without crediting them, then that is known as auto-plagiarism, sometimes known as self-plagiarism or duplication. However, many academic journals have rigorous guidelines for the percentage of an author’s work that can be reused.
Direct Plagiarism
When a writer plagiarises directly, the majority of someone else’s writing is taken virtually word-for-word from another source then it is known as direct plagiarism. Even if some sentences from the original are removed, the writer still exploits another person’s words and ideas and attempts to pass them off as his or her own.
Inaccurate Citation
Keeping track of your references is critical. When you give credit to one author but not another, you’ve made an incorrect citation. This is usually inadvertent; it could be as easy as mixing up the names of two authors or citing an unreliable source. To avoid making such a mistake, keep track of each reference and double-check their reliability.
Universal or Global Plagiarism
Plagiarism on a global scale refers to the act of passing off someone else’s work as your own. Getting someone else to create an essay or project for you, or presenting a text you found online as your own work, are examples of this.
How to Detect Plagiarism in Your Assignment?
Plagiarism is easy to detect in today’s world. Plagiarism detectors are accessible in both paid and free versions. These detectors compare your work against existing studies and articles in order to find plagiarised material.
Before submitting your paper, you should conduct a plagiarism check. Turnitin is widely used as a plagiarism checker in the United Kingdom. The text in a Turnitin report is highlighted in red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. Each of these hues has its own meaning. The colour red denotes text that is 75 percent to 100 percent identical. Although most universities utilise Turnitin, there are a few additional top-rated software that can also provide high-quality reports:
- Quetext
- Unicheck
- Ephorus
- Grammarly
If you are willing to go with the free of cost ones, then these are the best:
- DupliChecker
- Small SEO tools
- Prepostseo
Conclusion:
When it comes to academic writing, we need to be true and genuine while writing research papers and other assignments. These assignments build your reputation not just as a professional but also as a person. Our article sheds light on plagiarism, its drawbacks, and how you can avoid it. If you still find it difficult to write a complete research paper on your own without plagiarism, you can get Cheap Dissertation Help right away!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the effective tricks to avoid plagiarism?
Here are some effective tips and tricks to avoid plagiarism and generate your content originally.
Keep Track of Sources:
While researching and writing your research paper, keep the track of sources you are using. This will help a lot while citing.
Make What You Write Unique:
Taking ideas from others’ research work is a good thing, but do not try to copy. Include your ideas and concepts to make your work unique.
Organise Everything As You Proceed:
Instead of leaving everything for the end, take things as you proceed. Cite all the sources as you use them in your assignment.
Take a Plagiarism Test:
Before submitting your assignments, make sure to carry out plagiarism reports using reputed plagiarism detectors.
Avoid Paraphrasing Tools:
To make the work easier, students try to use paraphrasing tools but they are not good at all. Whether they will lack grammar or meaning, your content will never be on point.
What if the plagiarism in your research paper is unintentional?
The consequences of plagiarism can be extremely severe. No matter if it is intentional or not. Also, you may come across some serious legal allegations due to plagiarism. These allegations include both a penalty and jail sentence.
How can we tell if someone has copied work?
To check if the student has copied work from somewhere, you can use a plagiarism checker. There are many plagiarism checkers that help you detect plagiarism easily.
Which is the best free plagiarism checker?
While there are many free of cost plagiarism checkers on the internet, selecting the best one is something hard to do. You can assure the credibility of a plagiarism checker by checking sample content.
Are paid plagiarism checkers expensive?
It depends on what plagiarism checker you are using. If you are using the high ends ones they definitely cost a lot. If you are low on budget you can go with the unpaid checkers on the internet.
