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Why Can't You Ignore Plagiarism for Your Thesis ?

Published - 2024-02-22 Writing & Compare Documents
plagiarism checker for thesis

The thought that “ what great plagiarism does” is quite tranquil amongst today’s generation. The thesis which you are asked to create during the end of the session requires full dedication and strength of an individual. Just imagine that one day your instructor comes in and says “this is plagiarised!”. All the efforts of yours will go into vain.  Therefore, it is crucial for students at university level to get their content of thesis plagiarised checked before the submission. Being familiar with that there are a few students who might not agree upon this idea of getting their thesis analysed first because of their confidence but this is very helpful as it doesn’t affect your initial efforts or research. Read through our blog to learn how to avoid plagiarism.

Why is plagiarism wrong or harmful ?

Do you recognise the end result of creating a content full of plagiarism? No, beside dishonesty, plagiarism hampers intellectual growth of an individual. It is stealing of any scholars' work or maybe the work of peers without giving them any credits. The purpose of thesis writing relies on compiling information based on original results after observation and conducting research. You can surely take help from the previous literature, but do not completely copy and paste it. 

Here is why plagiarism is widely regarded as unethical while writing thesis:

  • Diminished learning outcome: While a student who completely depends upon others work, their learning prospect vanishes. The essential learning experience of conducting research, synthesising information, and articulating ideas evades with the practice of plagiarism. It deprives students of the opportunities to develop essential academic skills and intellectual independence. 
     
  • Stifling of creativity and innovation: Plagiarism promotes imitation over originality, which eventually discourages creativity and innovative thinking of an individual. Instead of engaging in the typical process of research and exploration, students resort to copying stuff from already existing information of others. 
     
  • Violation of academic integrity: Academic integrity and honesty are the main fundamentals to knowledge and learning. Schools and various other higher level institutes value truthful ways of conducting research and when this is hampered, appropriate punishments are given to the one who is the victim. 
     
  • Erosion of credibility: The credibility and reputation of both the plagiariser and institution they represent are in stake. It calls into question the authenticity and reliability of the plagiarised work, leading to doubts about the competence and integrity of the individual or organisation involved.

Though there are more such risks which plagiarism holds. It represents the breach of ethical standards, and poses risks on individuals, institutions, and society in large. 

How can you ignore plagiarism in your thesis?

Be careful not to plagiarise, even if it happens unintentionally. The term “accidental plagiarism” is for those individuals who are unconscious about the act of falling into the trap of plagiarism. This can happen due to various reasons, such as forgetfulness, lack of understanding of citation rules, or inadequate note-taking practices. Accidental plagiarism is a serious issue in academic and professional settings and can have significant consequences if not addressed properly. 

These strategies will help you stay away from plagiarism:

  • Make yourself aware about the different types and forms of plagiarism, including copying verbatim from a source without proper citation, paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source, and self-plagiarism (using your own previous work without proper citation). 
     
  • Begin with your original research on your topic to generate original ideas and insights. You can take help from a variety of reputed resources, scholarly articles, books and primary sources to gather information and support your argument. 
     
  • While taking notes ensure that you keep your ideas and ideas of others distinguished. Use quotation marks for direct quotes and paraphrase information in your own words while maintaining the original meaning.
     
  • Make sure that you cite the sources from where you used ideas, data, language, etc as per the citation style defined by your institute or discipline. Include both in-text citations and a bibliography or reference list at the end of your thesis. Or else you can use citation styles which are highly recognised by popular institutions such as APA, MLA,or chicago. 
     
  • Simply changing a few words of other content or phrases won’t avoid the chances of plagiarism. You need to understand the concept of paraphrasing. It simply includes rewriting someone else’s work in your own way. Make sure that you rephrase the content in a way that it reflects your understanding of the material while still preserving the original meaning.
     
  • When you directly quote something from a source, make sure you install it in double quotations to indicate the exact words of the author. Be sure to provide an accurate citation for the quote, including the page number if applicable.
     
  • Keep a track of the sources you are using while conducting research for your thesis, including bibliographic information such as author names, publication dates, titles, and page numbers. This will make it easier to cite your sources accurately later on. You can use reference management softwares or citation tools to manage your references. 
     
  • Consider using similarity checker softwares or online tools such as Desklib’s similarity tool to check your work for any instances of plagiarism. As the thesis submission date comes near by, make sure to get your thesis plagiarism checked with this tool. The  tools help in identifying potential issues, and allow you make necessary amendments and revisions before finalising your thesis. 
     
  • At the end, Do not hesitate to seek feedback or suggestions from your peers, thesis advisor, or instructor throughout the writing process. They can provide valuable guidance and advice to help you avoid plagiarism and improve the quality of your thesis. 

This is the best way to golf academic integrity and uphold your reputation amongst your peers and instructors. Your own research and others literature when used in the best way possible can help you in your academic growth. By following the above mentioned strategies you can ignore plagiarism in your thesis. 

Conclusion:

In today’s academic landscape, plagiarism acts as a web spread by spiders over the integrity of scholarly work. You would never want your thesis to be labelled as plagiarised upon submission, even after pouring your heart and soul to craft one. The consequences can be severe but by arming yourself with the awareness and adopting proactive strategies, you can safeguard your thesis against the scourge of plagiarism. By embracing the strategies mentioned in the blog, you can uphold the principles of academic integrity and emerge as a beacon of scholarly excellence. Additionally, you check your thesis from a reliable plagiarism tool or software such as Desklib’s plagiarism checker at our website. 

So, why can't you ignore plagiarism for your thesis? Because your academic journey is too valuable to be tarnished by the shadow of dishonesty. By remaining vigilant and adhering to the highest standards of academic integrity, you can ensure that your thesis stands as a testament to your dedication, scholarship, and integrity.

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