- Published: November 16, 2021
- Updated: November 16, 2021
- University / College: University of Alberta
- Language: English
- Downloads: 24
Notably, the recent past has experienced an immense rise in the sources of information. Precisely, the emergence of technological innovations such as Google offers a comprehensive platform that enhances the availability of a wide range of information. However, the availability of such information is compounded by the increased occurrence of plagiarism. Definitely, plagiarism connotes to the use of information from different avenues, without giving credit to the said avenues. There exist a number of avenues where someone can draw certain information that might help them draft academic, research, and other papers/literatures. These include songs, poems, books, artworks, interviews, articles and other mediums. Worth noting is the fact that when someone drafts or publishes any given information regarding any topic, they have the right to take such publications as personal effects.
Therefore, plagiarism culminates in cases where someone utilizes someone’s publications or someone’s literature for academic, research, and other purposes without seeking the consent/authority of the owners. Seeking the consent of someone who has published or written any given publication or literature does not necessarily mean that you have to reach out to the publishers in person. Instead, one is deemed to have sought the consent of the owners of any given information when she or he accredits the said owners. While it is true that plagiarism occurs when someone copies someone’s literature word by word, it is essential to note that close imitation of such works is also termed as plagiarism.
Evidently, there exist a number of ways in which someone can propagate acts of plagiarism. Above all, someone can propagate plagiarism when he or she pays someone to draft academic and other literatures for them. In addition, when someone utilizes the internet to derive data, and other information drafted by someone else is considered to have precipitated plagiarism. Finally, anyone who makes an attempt to restructure someone’s ideas to appear like their ideas also propagates plagiarism. Certainly, plagiarism is wrong because it devalues the core purpose of learning. In fact, plagiarism is regarded as an academic offense and is punishable.
Apart from the academic repercussions posed by plagiarism, it is also essential to note that there are legal repercussions that occur when someone is found to have plagiarized someone’s works. Precisely, there exist copyright laws that assure maximum protection of published materials. Therefore, the use of someone’s works be it artwork or books can prompt the owners of such works to sue the person found to have used the works without accrediting the owners. Evidently, authors draft books and other literatures for a living. Therefore using their works without accrediting them disregards their hard work. Overall, plagiarism is a “ heinous” act that destroys the reputation of the plagiarists.
Consequently, there exists a number of ways that are adequate in minimizing the occurrence of plagiarism. More importantly, the use of your own words while working on topical issues that have been addressed by various writers minimizes the occurrence of plagiarism. In order to use this method adequately in preventing the occurrence of plagiarism, it is important to understand the subject one is talking about. This allows one to write in their own words and not restate what someone else has aid on the particular subject being addressed. Similarly, referencing offers a comprehensive platform that minimizes the occurrence of plagiarism. Referencing can be carried out by use of quotes and in-text citations. From this analysis, plagiarism is a contentious issue that should be accorded a wider berth.