Guide
Home >> Avoiding Plagiarism
What
is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism
occurs when you borrow another's words (or ideas) and do not acknowledge
that you have done so. In this culture, we consider our words
and ideas intellectual property; like a car or any other possession,
we believe our words belong to us and cannot be used without our
permission.
Plagiarism is a very serious offense. If it is found that you
have plagiarized -- deliberately or inadvertently -- you may face
serious consequences. In some instances, plagiarism has meant
that students have had to leave the institutions where they were
studying. MIT addresses plagiarism and its consequences in Policies
and Procedures, section 10.
The
best way to avoid plagiarism is to cite your
sources - both within the body of your paper and in a bibliography
of sources you used at the end of your paper.
Some useful links on plagiarism
Avoiding Plagiarism (from the Writing Center, MIT)
Using the Language of Your Source Appropriately (MIT users only - Part of the Mayfield Handbook)
Plagiarism: What it is and how to recognize and avoid it (Indiana
University)
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