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Referencing: Plagiarism
 
     

Direct Quotations Indirect Quotations Styles
Plagiarism

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism can be defined as an act of presenting someone else's ideas as if they are yours.
As an academic and a writer you have to be responsible and acknowledge all the sources of information you use in building up your essay. Every little idea that you use to support your argument, whether is is an illustrations or just an example has to be acknowledged and the author given credit. If you do not do this you are committing a crime and are liable for prosecution in a court of law.

Any piece of academic writing should be a personal process in which like an archeologist you make a discovery. As you research you come up with new information, which you are free to make part of your own but not your own. Use the methods already discussed to do this. That is quote , either directly or indirectly or paraphrase it.

As an academic you should be proud of your work and make it unique since it is a result of your search for information and is your own effort. Your aim should not be to mislead people to think that you are such a genius and all the ideas you present are yours.

Avoid plagiarism; DO NOT:

  • Repeat the exact words as in the source  without any acknowledgement.
  • Write and use the same words changing just a few words here and there as is the case with inexperienced writers.
  • Use the source's key words or phrases as your own without giving credit. You have to give credit for the ideas you use, unless the ideas are widely accepted as "common knowledge".

You have now reached the end of this unit and the whole manual.

Try the exercises.

 
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