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Plagiarism: What is Plagiarism?

What is this Guide for?

This guide provides tips, resources, and suggestions for avoiding plagiarism

What is Plagiarism?

"an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the original author." (dictionary.com)

SVC Plagiarism Policy

  • Plagiarism is presenting as one's own, intentionally or not, someone else's words, ideas, conclusions, images, or data, without specific acknowledgment.

  • This includes, but is not limited to

    • presenting the source's language without quotation marks (with or without citation);

    • paraphrased language that is not cited;

    • and/or language that is cited, but insufficiently paraphrased.

  • If students have questions about citation, acknowledgement, paraphrasing, or specific course standards related to plagiarism, they should consult with their instructor BEFORE submitting assignments that may contain questionable material.

SVC Honor Code can be found at : www.skagit.edu/honorcode

Definition

ACCORDING TO THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY, TO "PLAGIARIZE" MEANS:

  • to steal or pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own

  • use without crediting the source

  • to commit literary theft

  • to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing sourceMerriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
     

ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ARE CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM:

  • turning in someone else's work as your own
  • copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
  • failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
  • giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
  • changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
  • copying so many words or ides from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not

(https://www.plagiarism.org/)

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