Academic Plagiarism: Definition, Types, Examples and Avoidance

This report enlightens the reader about academic plagiarism, its definition, types, examples and ways to avoid it. It also provides insights into the major forms of academic plagiarism along with some scenarios in which it happened along with the ways in which people can avoid it.

RUNNNING HEAD: Computer Information System
Computer Information System
[Type the document subtitle]
Laptop04011
[Pick the date]

Computer Information System 1
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................1
Definition of Plagiarism...............................................................................................................................1
Types of Plagiarism......................................................................................................................................1
Examples of Academic Plagiarism................................................................................................................2
Avoidance of Academic Plagiarism..............................................................................................................2
Learnings and Conclusion............................................................................................................................2
References...................................................................................................................................................4

Computer Information System 2
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to enlighten the reader about the meaning of academic plagiarism.
The report guides the reader about the major forms of academic plagiarism along with some
scenarios in which it happened along with the ways in which people can avoid it. Further,
academic plagiarism refers to the act of copying and including the content in the report that is
directly taken from some authentic or non-authentic source. Submission of plagiarized material
for assessment purpose can regarded as a fraudulent activity (Blum, 2009).
Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is considered as an academic crime because it involves cheating of somebody else has
written material for passing in the exam. Plagiarism is basically the process of presenting
someone else’s work or ideas as their own, with or without the actual consent of the person. All
the published and unpublished information, whether it is manuscript or printed or in electronic
form a part of this definition. Plagiarism can be deliberate or vice versa depending upon the
intentions of the person. It is important for the universities to check on their students whether
they have attempted the paper using the best of their knowledge or they have just copied it from
some varied sources (Ross, David, and Matteson, 2015).
Types of Plagiarism
Further, it should also be noted that there are different types of plagiarism initiated in the
industry. Direct, self, mosaic and accidental plagiarism are four different types of plagiarism
activities initiated in the environment. Direct plagiarism refers to the word of word transcription
of the work that someone else has done. This deliberate plagiarism is unethical in nature. Further
self-plagiarism when a person submits their own work twice or the fresh work has a part of
previous work submitted. It can also occur if the student submits the same work twice in
different classes without the prior permission of the professors. Mosaic plagiarism occurs when
the student borrow phrases from sources without using quotation mark. Lastly, accidental
plagiarism occurs when a person unintentionally paraphrase a source using the same phrases or
words (Shelley, 2014).

Computer Information System 3
Examples of Academic Plagiarism
Furthermore, it should be noted that people often perform the activity of plagiarism while
knowing or unknowingly. Many times, it is important to write the same sentence in the report so
as to provide a clear meaning of the whole stanzas but many times it can be intentional. For
instance, while writing an English paper, if a student quotes the same quote stated by
Shakespeare, then it will become a part of plagiarized content (Cronan,197-220, 2018). ‘Hell is
empty and all devils are here’, if this quote is not written with quotations then it will come into
plagiarism. Further, another example of plagiarism can be seen while writing a definition. It is
important to paraphrase every definition so as to eliminate the problem of plagiarism. Even the
simple definitions of management should be paraphrased. Thirdly, using somebody else’s
researched work and submitting it on their behalf without the prior permission of the first person
can act as a part of plagiarism. Many students who fail to understand the concept and write about
it perform this activity. Resulting in which, such students fail miserably (Harris, 2017).
Avoidance of Academic Plagiarism
Lastly, the fact should be noted that it is not difficult for a person to avoid the plagiarized
content, they just have to focus on the work that they do. In order to eliminate plagiarism on
should understand the papers that they have researched, and then they should try to convert it
into their language while writing. Copying the whole content without changing the words will
definitely attract plagiarism. So, one should first understand the topic that they are working on,
then they should read and research on it. Finally, after gaining the relevant information, the
student should convert it into their language and submit the paper. In this way, one will never
attract penalty due plagiarism (Pecorari, 94-99, 2015).
Learnings and Conclusion
Thus, in the limelight of above mentioned events, the fact should be noted that plagiarism is a
major blunder in the field of education for which a student can be penalized heavily. Through the
research done for the above mentioned paper, many aspects we learned about the process of
plagiarism. This paper helped in understanding the ways in which one can avoid plagiarizing
their content. It also helped in understand different types of plagiarism and common scenarios in

Computer Information System 4
which plagiarism occur. With the help of this paper, one can easily understand the ways to write
a paper with the best of their knowledge and without attracting plagiarism.

Computer Information System 5
References
Angélil-Carter, Shelley. Stolen language?: Plagiarism in writing. UK: Routledge, 2014.
Blum, Susan D. My word!: Plagiarism and college culture. Cornell University Press, 2009.
Cronan, Timothy Paul, Jeffrey K. Mullins, and David E. Douglas. "Further understanding factors
that explain freshman business students’ academic integrity intention and behavior: Plagiarism
and sharing homework." Journal of Business Ethics 147, no. 1 (2018): 197-220.
Harris, Robert A. Using sources effectively: Strengthening your writing and avoiding plagiarism.
UK: Routledge, 2017.
Pecorari, Diane. "Plagiarism in second language writing: Is it time to close the case?." Journal of
Second Language Writing30 (2015): 94-99.
Ross, David B., and Rande Matteson. "Copying Something Good and Making it Evil: An
Examination into Global Plagiarism Schemes in the 21st Century and How it Impacts Society."
(2015).