History
The first evidence of plagiarism was in AD 561, an Irish monk, Colmcille, copied a manuscript he had borrowed from another monk, Finnian. (Kennedy, 2006, Pg. 2) Plagiarism could have happened before this time but in the form of ideas but there isn't a recorded incidence of this. This first evidence is when we began to have the written word to communicate. Since plagiarism started so early, it isn't surprising how much more evident plagiarism has become in the world of the internet.
In 1964, the first large-scale study was conducted on academic dishonesty which involved 5,000 students from 99 colleges and universities, revealed that three-fourths of students reported engaging in some form of academic dishonesty. (Heckler, 2013 ; Bowers, 1964)
As years went on plagiarism became more and more evident. The written word was spoken, written in books, letters, newspapers, journals, magazines, television etc. making it available to the public daily. It became more important than ever to learn how to properly paraphrase and cite the source of information you were using.
Here we are in the year 2014, with every piece of information imaginable at our fingertips with the touch of a button. It isn't the written word alone a person can use to plagiarize. There are an infinite number of webpages and applications for the computer, phone and tablet. Plagiarism hits an all time high. The biggest eye opener at this time is that not all students are aware they are plagiarizing. Several webpages do not have the information so a student can cite it properly leading them to believe it is some sort of manufactured writing of a computer without an actual person doing the writing.
The first evidence of plagiarism was in AD 561, an Irish monk, Colmcille, copied a manuscript he had borrowed from another monk, Finnian. (Kennedy, 2006, Pg. 2) Plagiarism could have happened before this time but in the form of ideas but there isn't a recorded incidence of this. This first evidence is when we began to have the written word to communicate. Since plagiarism started so early, it isn't surprising how much more evident plagiarism has become in the world of the internet.
In 1964, the first large-scale study was conducted on academic dishonesty which involved 5,000 students from 99 colleges and universities, revealed that three-fourths of students reported engaging in some form of academic dishonesty. (Heckler, 2013 ; Bowers, 1964)
As years went on plagiarism became more and more evident. The written word was spoken, written in books, letters, newspapers, journals, magazines, television etc. making it available to the public daily. It became more important than ever to learn how to properly paraphrase and cite the source of information you were using.
Here we are in the year 2014, with every piece of information imaginable at our fingertips with the touch of a button. It isn't the written word alone a person can use to plagiarize. There are an infinite number of webpages and applications for the computer, phone and tablet. Plagiarism hits an all time high. The biggest eye opener at this time is that not all students are aware they are plagiarizing. Several webpages do not have the information so a student can cite it properly leading them to believe it is some sort of manufactured writing of a computer without an actual person doing the writing.
Definition of Plagiarism
The definition of plagiarism is very broad. Rebecca Moore (2001) divides the concept of plagiarism into four categories:
The definition of plagiarism is very broad. Rebecca Moore (2001) divides the concept of plagiarism into four categories:
- Fraud: submitting a paper that has been written by someone else.
- Patchwriting: Taking words and/or phrases from a source text and patching them together to make a new sentence with or without acknowledgement.
- Failure to cite: Using words, ideas or phrases from a source and not acknowledging them.
- Failure to quote: When using a direct quote and providing quotations.
Why do people plagiarize?
There are numerous reasons for a person to plagiarize but here are the top reasons according to Oliphant (2002):
The question that is difficult for most people to answer is can I use someone else's work in my paper without plagiarizing? The answer is Yes you can, but you have to cite your sources and use appropriate paraphrasing or quotations as needed. Without citing your source you are inevitably cheating and plagiarizing. The next page will help you if you are a student or teacher to stop plagiarism. If you are neither of these both sections will be helpful to read through.
There are numerous reasons for a person to plagiarize but here are the top reasons according to Oliphant (2002):
- Inability to cite sources properly or not knowing when sources need to be cited.
- The belief that they are paraphrasing without sources and instead are plagiarizing.
- Feeling the internet is free access information and doesn't need to be cited.
- Stress (to make the grade) or overwhelmed from homework load
- Procrastination. Research isn't preformed in enough time to complete the assignment by the due date.
- Cultural factors. Some believe it is an honor to copy someone else's work.
- Not fully understanding the consequences.
- Paper Mills - papers available on the internet that can be downloaded for free or traditional mills that operate on exchange or for a fee. (there is a disclaimer on some of these type of sites that say for "educational use only".)
The question that is difficult for most people to answer is can I use someone else's work in my paper without plagiarizing? The answer is Yes you can, but you have to cite your sources and use appropriate paraphrasing or quotations as needed. Without citing your source you are inevitably cheating and plagiarizing. The next page will help you if you are a student or teacher to stop plagiarism. If you are neither of these both sections will be helpful to read through.