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Most Common Examples of Plagiarism to Be Aware of

In today’s academic world, plagiarism is considered unacceptable and is well-known to every student attending college or university. It is an act of academic dishonesty and a serious moral offense that can result in severe consequences such as being expelled from a course or even from the institution. In extreme cases, it may even lead to legal actions. Despite understanding the potential risks involved, some students struggle to avoid plagiarism.

Differentiating between plagiarism and other acceptable academic practices can be challenging. Since there are various forms of writing that can be expressed in many ways, it is beneficial to examine plagiarism examples separately to understand how to avoid it.

Plagiarism Examples You Should Avoid in Academic Writing

To comply with the strict regulations set by colleges and universities on copyright infringement, most students make an effort to avoid this unethical practice. However, even if unintentional, students may still encounter issues with plagiarism in their papers. Which of the following examples do you think constitutes plagiarism?

  1. The number of homeless people in the city increased by 15% according to recent estimates.
  2. Smith argued that he does not usually intend to promote the public interest nor understand how much he is promoting it.
  3. British scientists have demonstrated that lack of sleep has a negative impact on the ability to memorize long speeches by heart.

All of the mentioned examples can and should be considered academic dishonesty if found in a paper. Despite appearing relatively harmless, they ultimately undermine the author’s credibility as a source of information and a creator of new knowledge.

For students, it is important to understand different types of plagiarism as recognized by professors in universities and colleges in the US.

Direct

Word-for-word plagiarism is a deliberate act of presenting someone else’s work as one’s own. This type of academic dishonesty involves copying external sources or existing information verbatim without giving credit to the original authors. Professors can easily detect this type of misconduct, which requires minimal effort from the student. Even the most basic free online plagiarism checker can accurately identify it.

“At an academic conference on NDEs a few years ago, a respected cardiologist stood up and said, ‘I’ve worked as a cardiologist for 25 years now, and I’ve never come across such absurd stories in my practice’” (Finnegan, 2014, p. 225). At an academic conference on NDEs a few years ago, one cardiologist admitted that he never came across such absurd stories in his practice although he worked as a cardiologist for 25 years now.

Patchwork or patchwriting

Students engage in this form of plagiarism when they gather information from various sources and merge them into a cohesive whole without acknowledging the original authors. This type of plagiarism is intentional and involves significant effort to conceal the misconduct by rearranging information. Although it is more sophisticated than direct plagiarism, modern plagiarism detection software can effectively identify this academic dishonesty, thereby increasing the likelihood of facing penalties for plagiarism.

Correct version Plagiarized version

source 1: Bradbury’s eye for contemporary troubles extends beyond the dangers of global disaster. In the prologue to The Illustrated Man, Bradbury introduces a character who has an existential problem: his torso is covered in living tattoos.

source 2: The Illustrated Man is a 1951 book of eighteen science fiction short stories by Ray Bradbury that explores the nature of mankind. While none of the stories have a plot or character connection with the next, a recurring theme is the conflict of the cold mechanics of technology and the psychology of people.

Bradbury’s eye for contemporary troubles extends beyond the dangers of global disaster. The Illustrated Man is a 1951 book of eighteen science fiction short stories by Ray Bradbury that explores the nature of mankind. Here he introduces a character who has an existential problem: his torso is covered in living tattoos. Its recurring theme is the conflict of the cold mechanics of technology and the psychology of people. Rewrite this without Copyright

 

 

 

 

Self-Plagiarism

This type of plagiarism occurs when a person presents someone else’s work as their own without giving proper credit. It is not about repeating the same tasks for different assignments, but rather submitting the same paper multiple times. Self-plagiarism can also happen when significant portions of previous papers are used in new assignments or for different courses. While some professors may tolerate it, in most cases, it should be avoided.

Common Knowledge Misrepresentation

Sometimes, students commit plagiarism by presenting information that they have borrowed as if it is common knowledge. This is not ethical as it undermines the credibility of the information. Additionally, misrepresentation occurs when students fabricate information in an attempt to support their own arguments. Such examples of plagiarism are often considered serious by professors. Therefore, it is important for students to avoid them.

Paraphrasing without Citing

This is an example of academic fraud that can have serious consequences for students. While paraphrasing is an acceptable and even preferred academic practice, it is important to properly cite all paraphrased information. Failing to do so can result in accusations of plagiarism. Each documentation style has specific guidelines on how to cite paraphrased information, and it is essential to follow them as the only way to avoid copyright accusations.

How To Avoid Plagiarism

Is plagiarism considered a crime? From a legal perspective in America, it can be. Students must learn how to avoid it to protect their rights as creators of new knowledge. Even if one intends to produce original content, accidental plagiarism can still occur. Therefore, it is advisable for students to use plagiarism detection tools, given the numerous examples of copyright violations that exist.

Using a trustworthy online plagiarism checker can be extremely beneficial in ensuring the originality of a paper. It can easily detect any instances that may undermine the writer’s credibility and authority. In addition to identifying different types of plagiarism, online checkers often provide reports that can significantly improve the overall quality of the content. Ultimately, a reliable checker not only ensures 100% originality of the paper but also saves time that students typically spend on proofreading their papers.

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