Why Plagiarism is Not in the Students Best Interest 1

Why Plagiarism is Not in the Students Best Interest

Leslie Hudson

Texas A&M University - Commerce

Robert Wolfe, Instructor

ETEC 424

February 6, 2020
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Plagiarism is duplicating someone else’s words without giving proper credit – this can be

done knowingly or unknowingly. Despite whether plagiarism is done with or without intent,

students who plagiarize will face consequences. These consequences may result in one receiving

a failing grade and/or receiving adequate counseling on the matter. However, plagiarism can also

lead to ruining one’s reputation, being fired from a job, or getting expelled from school. It is vital

that students understand plagiarism and its consequences as well as knowing how to avoid it.

There are many reasons why plagiarism is never in the students’ best interest and it is

important to note that, “Plagiarism is a type of intellectual theft” [ CITATION Article \l 1033 ].

Even if it is done unintentionally, it is still unacceptable and will result in one or more

consequences. To avoid plagiarizing, students need to be certain they know what it is, how it

happens, and take time to develop effective academic skills [ CITATION Article \l 1033 ]. Even

further, students should always acknowledge where their information came from even when they

have put the information into their own words.

Many websites include useful information and tips for avoiding plagiarism, and some

sites even have the power to detect plagiarism for students who may be unsure if their paper is

authentic or not. First and foremost, students should always cite the sources they use even when

paraphrasing (writing something completely in your own words). If using the author’s exact

words, it is necessary that the original text be placed inside quotation marks with a citation

included (GCF Global, n.d.). There are also many useful websites that can be utilized to make

certain sources are cited in the correct format. One of the best ways to avoid plagiarizing is

clearly stated by the Goodwill Community Foundation (n.d.):

It's much easier to avoid plagiarism if you focus on developing a unique point or

perspective, rather than relying on your sources to make all of your points for you.
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Instead of simply stitching together various sources, try to synthesize the information so

that you are creating something new.

Nothing good comes from plagiarizing. Not only is it on the rise throughout institutions,

but it is also becoming easier via the internet (Scan My Essay, n.d.). Even though students may

feel that they won’t get caught, students should understand and uphold academic honesty.

Receiving a failing grade may not bother some students, but the consequences of plagiarizing

can be very severe and even impact future job positions because “…employers are unlikely to

recruit a candidate who has a proven track record of cheating, laziness and dishonesty” (Scan My

Essay, n.d.). Students should never resort to plagiarizing and should educate themselves on what

it is and how to avoid it in order to uphold academic honesty and maintain good standing.

Plagiarism is never in the students’ best interest. Therefore, it is always in the students’

best interest to cite sources even when the information has been paraphrased. Students should

work to create their own ideas based off the information they gather understanding that hard

work pays off and will help them succeed. Students need to be aware of plagiarism, its

consequences, and how to avoid it in order to preserve their reputation and academic honesty.
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References

Scan My Essay. (n.d.). Consequences of plagiarism. Retrieved from

https://www.scanmyessay.com/plagiarism/consequences-of-plagiarism.php

In-text: (Scan My Essay, n.d.).

GCF Global. (n.d.). Use information correctly: Avoiding plagiarism. Retrieved from

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/useinformationcorrectly/avoiding-plagiarism/1/

In-text: (GCF Global, n.d.).

UNSW. (2019, October 28). What is plagiarism? Retrieved from

https://student.unsw.edu.au/what-plagiarism

In-text: (UNSW, 2019).
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Responses to Discussion 2: Plagiarism

Maritza, great video and music! I like that you said plagiarizing will never really show

what a student understands. It's really important that we create our own ideas and understanding

so we can be sure we know what we are talking about. Resources are simply that: resources, and

we shouldn't solely rely on them when writing/speaking about different topics. I also agree that

students who show original work can be proud of their academic honesty - I said something

similar in my presentation, too! 

Laci, I love your presentation! Your music and pictures flowed so nicely. I love how you

explained that it's better to ask for help than to plagiarize when you are unsure about your

writing. I also like how you said in your paper that the "consequences of plagiarizing are not

worth the minimal additional efforts it takes to properly cite sources". I completely agree with

what you said there! It's so importantt for students, and really people in general, to be aware of

plagiarism and its consequences. Asking questions was a great part to add in your work - that is

such an easy thing to do if we just take the effort!

Esme, I love the background music you added to your video and how your presentation

transitioned. I also really like how you included who is mostly at risk - I really feel that college

students are at a higher risk because we do so much academic writing! I also like how you

included in your paper that plagiarizing can occur by not giving proper credit to pictures, videos,

or music. In my presentation, I also emphasized the importance of citing your resources. That is

definitely the best way to avoid plagiarizing!