What
is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is taking the ideas or words
of others and passing them off as your own. Plagiarism is a type of
intellectual theft.
Plagiarism can take many forms, from
deliberate cheating to accidentally copying from a source without acknowledgement.
Plagiarism can have serious consequences, so it is important that students be
aware of what it is, and how to avoid it.
Why is it wrong to
plagiarize?
Plagiarism is unethical for three
reasons.
- Firstly, it is unethical because it is a form of theft. By taking the ideas and words of others and pretending they are your own, you are stealing someone else’s intellectual property.
- Secondly, it is unethical because the plagiarizer subsequently benefits from this theft.
- Thirdly, a degree is evidence of its holder’s abilities and knowledge. If a student gains employment on the basis of a qualification they have not earned, they may be a risk to others.
No doubt some students do cheat. They
deliberately take the results of other people’s hard work, use it to gain
credit for themselves, and learn little or nothing in the process. But most
cases of plagiarism are accidental, and could be avoided if students become
more conscious of their own writing and research practices.
Why
is Referencing Important?
Citations are not
used simply to avoid plagiarism; they have other important roles too.
By citing the work of a particular
scholar you acknowledge and respect the intellectual property rights of that
researcher. As a student, or an academic, you are free to use any of the
millions of ideas, insights and arguments published by other writers, many of
whom have spent years of hard work researching and writing. All they ask is
that you acknowledge their contribution to your assignment. This doesn’t seem
like too much, does it?
Citing work also allows you to show
your marker that you are aware of the field in which you are operating. Your
citations map the space of your discipline, and allow you to navigate your way
through your chosen field of study, in the same way that sailors steer by the
stars.
Citations also make your writing more
persuasive.
Exercise: Look at the two paragraphs
below: which one seems more authoritative?
Paragraph
One
The importance, or
otherwise, of lyrics in popular music, and academic approaches to song
lyrics, is subject to much debate. The supposed ‘poor’ standard or presumed
meaninglessness of popular music lyrics, become a means to critique popular
music. Conversely, it could be argued that too much attention is given to a
song’s lyrics, to the point where the music itself is overlooked; it is also
possible to overestimate the degree to which the music listener actually
listens to the words, or perceives them to be the site of meaning in a song.
Nonetheless, Simon Frith suggests that lyrics do allow songs to be ‘used in
particular ways’: lyrics facilitate certain ‘creative articulations’. In the
case of protest music, the lyrics allow a song to be made to speak to
political issues.
|
Paragraph Two
The importance, or otherwise, of lyrics in popular music,
and academic approaches to song lyrics, is subject to much debate (Frith, 1998; Shepherd, 1999;
Fornas, 2003). The supposed ‘poor’ standard or presumed
meaninglessness of popular music lyrics, become a means to critique popular
music. Conversely, it could be argued that too much attention is given to a
song’s lyrics, to the point where the music itself is overlooked; it is also
possible to overestimate the degree to which the music listener actually
listens to the words, or perceives them to be the site of meaning in a song (Shepherd, 1999:172).
Nonetheless, Simon Frith suggests that lyrics do allow songs to be ‘used in
particular ways’ (cited
in Martin, 1995:273): lyrics facilitate certain ‘creative
articulations’ (Johnson,
2000). In the case of protest music, the lyrics allow a song to be
made to speak to political issues.
|
The paragraphs are identical, except
for the absence of citations from paragraph 1.
The first paragraph may be just as
interesting as the second, but within an academic context, a context that
requires you to show from where you have taken ideas, the second has far more
authority, it is more persuasive. It shows that the ideas you are discussing
are matters that are important to your particular academic community.
REFERENCES
UNSW. (2010). Plagiarism & academic integrity. Retrived on June 13, 2012, from: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism/pintro.html.
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