[toc]
understanding plagiarism definition avoidance and ethics
Concise Guide to APA Style: 7th Edition (OFFICIAL)
Page 200 Review
Understanding Plagiarism: A Critical Review
Plagiarism, a serious ethical violation, involves presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own without proper attribution.
This excerpt from the text delves into the nuances of plagiarism, highlighting the importance of accurate and comprehensive crediting.
Let’s break down the key aspects discussed.
The Importance of Comprehensive Credit
The text emphasizes that proper credit extends beyond simply avoiding direct copying.
It states, “Ww WORKS CREDITED IN TEXT Section 8.36) must provide more comprehensive credit in the form of a copyright attribution (see Section 8.39) and may need permission from the copyright holder to use the materials (see Section 8.38).” This underlines that even when using materials with permission, a clear and detailed copyright attribution is crucial.
Furthermore, the excerpt stresses that credit should be given not only for direct quotes but also for the ideas of others: “The necessity for credit extends to the ideas of others as well.
For example, authors should credit the originators of theories they refer to in their paper.
If authors model a study after one conducted by someone else, the author of the original study should be given credit.
If the rationale for a study was suggested in someone else’s article, that person should be given credit.” Acknowledging the intellectual contributions of others is essential for maintaining academic integrity.
The text also acknowledges the complexities involved in tracing the origins of ideas: “Given the free exchange of ideas, which is important to the health of intellectual discourse, authors may not be able to pinpoint exactly where the idea for their study originated.
They should make their best effort to find and acknowledge the source(s), including any personal communications (see Section 8.9).” While pinpointing the exact origin can be challenging, authors are expected to make a diligent effort to identify and acknowledge their sources, including personal communications.
Distinguishing Plagiarism from Minor Errors
The excerpt differentiates between intentional plagiarism and unintentional errors: “Although many cases of plagiarism are straightforward (e.g., passages of text copied from another source without attribution), other cases are more challenging to evaluate.
Usually, using incorrect citations (e.g., misspelling an author’s name, forgetting or mistyping an element in a reference list entry, or citing a source in the text that does not have a corresponding reference list entry) is not considered plagiarism if the error is minor and attributable to an editorial oversight rather than an intentional attempt to steal someone’s ideas or obfuscate the origin of the information (Cooper, 2016).” This highlights that minor citation errors, attributable to oversight rather than deliberate intent, are generally not considered plagiarism.
However, the excerpt also clarifies that even minor errors can have consequences: “However, such errors may still result in deductions on an academic assignment.” While not classified as plagiarism, inaccurate citations can still lead to penalties in academic settings.
The Role of Plagiarism-Checking Software
The text addresses the use of plagiarism-detection tools: “Instructors and publishers may use plagiarism-checking software (e.g., iThenticate, Turnitin) to identify cases in which entire papers have been copied, passages of specified lengths match, or a few words have been changed but content is largely the same (the latter is known as patchwriting; see Merriam-Webster, n.d.-a).” These tools can help identify potential instances of plagiarism, including patchwriting, where minor changes are made to avoid direct copying.
It’s important to note that software alone cannot definitively determine plagiarism: “However, human review is often necessary to determine whether plagiarism has actually taken place.” Human judgment is crucial in evaluating the context and intent behind potential matches identified by plagiarism-checking software.
The excerpt concludes with practical advice for avoiding plagiarism: “Take careful notes as you research and write to keep track of and accurately cite your sources.
Check your work carefully to ensure that you acknowledge the words and ideas of others with citations in the text that have corresponding reference list entries.” Meticulous note-taking and careful citation practices are essential for preventing plagiarism.
Beyond Plagiarism: Other Unethical Writing Practices
Finally, the excerpt briefly touches on other forms of unethical writing: “Unethical writing practices other than plagiarism are also prohibited.
For example, it is unethical to fabricate citations and/or reference list entries.
This practice gives the appearance of properly credited sources, but the sources are fictitious or untraceable; the author may have made up the information as well as the sources, or the information may come from real works that have not been” Fabricating citations is a serious ethical breach, as it creates a false impression of credibility and scholarly rigor.
In conclusion, this excerpt provides a comprehensive overview of plagiarism, covering its various forms, the importance of proper attribution, the role of technology in detection, and the need for ethical writing practices.
Understanding these principles is crucial for maintaining academic integrity and contributing to intellectual discourse.
Buy full ebook for only $18: https://www.lulu.com/shop/american-psychological-association/concise-guide-to-apa-style-7th-edition-official/ebook/product-rmzpq54.html?page=1&pageSize=4
Understanding Plagiarism Definition Avoidance And Ethics
Read more: Quotation Guide: Mastering Direct Quotes in Writing
Leave a Reply