Plagiarism: the act of presenting another's work or ideas as your own.
What is it?
- It's not just taking words, it's taking ideas and using them as your own without giving credit
- It is usually not deliberate – it is generally a result of poor note taking or lack of organization
- If you give credit by way of a citation, then you’re usually ok.
- If you are unsure whether to give credit or not, cite the source just to be safe.
- For more information on citing safely, visit the citation help page.
What can happen if I do plagiarize?
- A lot will depend upon whether it's intentional or unintentional
- You may initially receive a warning
- You could also receive a failing mark on the paper or fail the class altogether
- It could be reported and added to your academic file
- In some extreme circumstances it can be grounds for expulsion
- Do you know your Professor's policies on plagiarism?