How to Protect yourself from possible Plagiarism
Plagiarism can be deliberate or inadvertent.
When students deliberately plagiarize, they usually report that they had procrastinated so long that they felt they had no options. * Are you a procrastinator? If so, you have a lot of company. Research is a complex process and you can't do your best work if you don't allow enough time.
When students plagiarize inadvertently, the fault typically lies with sloppy organization and note-taking. Many students lose track of the source of the notes that they have taken, and eventually come to believe that they are original ideas. Whether or not you mean to plagiarize is ultimately irrelevant. If you use the intellectual property of another without proper attribution, it is a violation of the College of Charleston honor code.
How do I cite or acknowledge that I have used the ideas or words of another writer?
Your teacher may specify how you should acknowledge your sources and may have a style sheet or guide for this purpose. A phrase like, "As Sarah Magog writes in Civilization's End,..." will show that you have borrowed material. If you are not sure whether or not to acknowledge something, do it.
Plagiarism as Defined from the College of Charleston Student Handbook:
6. Plagiarism:
6.1. The verbatim repetition, without acknowledgment, of the writings of another author. All significant phrases, clauses, or passages, taken directly from source material must be enclosed in quotation marks and acknowledged in the text itself and/or in footnotes/endnotes.
6.2. Borrowing without acknowledging the source.
6.3. Paraphrasing the thoughts of another writer without acknowledgment.
6.4. Allowing any other person or organization to prepare work which one then submits as his/her own.
