However, the rise in instances of plagiarism has been attributed to multiple causes including. The majority of people do not plagiarize. This is evident where established referencing guidelines are disregarded such as neglecting to quote sources, and attribute work appropriately Park, The following table lists ten types of plagiarism with brief definitions and ratings of commonness and seriousness iThenticate, Plagiarism can have far reaching consequences Kiehl, The reputation of universities and colleges and the qualifications awarded may be questioned where plagiarism is problematic as society often equates plagiarism with cheating Vardi, Safeguarding academic integrity is echoed in policy and the teaching of referencing conventions. It also enables academics and journal editors to detect plagiarism.ĭeliberate plagiarism does also occur.
This software enables authors to check for referencing errors in their work and correct these, prior to final submission. In some ways this has also dealt a double-edged sword for writers. Technological advances have substantially contributed to student learning and research dissemination. Paraphrasing a sentence or quotation does not equate to altering a few words. Universities and colleges take plagiarism seriously whether it involves students or academics Vardi, and incidents can potentially derail career aspirations. Academics writing for publication are aware of plagiarism from their own studies, as well as their teaching and researcher roles. Writers who disregard this convention are at risk of plagiarism-the focus of this piece.
Integrity is a fundamental principle of academic writing. These are articulated in essay criteria and student policy as well as journal guidelines for publication. Whether writing an undergraduate or postgraduate essay, or writing for publication, specific conventions need to be followed. Writing is central to knowledge development and synthesis and therefore involves students at all levels and academics with varying experience.