Plagiarism is a common issue in academic writing. Both students and researchers are culprits when it comes to the issue of plagiarism. Typically, plagiarism is the concept of using external sources to add credibility to a work without properly citing the source. This is academic theft! To avoid plagiarism, it is essential to understand the different types of plagiarism and how to avoid it in your work. While it is necessary to draw upon established ideas and values and add relevant information, it is crucial to do so with caution to avoid falling into the trap of plagiarism. By following the effective ways to avoid plagiarism in the following sections, you can enhance your academic essay writing and ensure your academic success.
First, let’s see what plagiarism is and the different types, and then we’ll delve into the effective ways to avoid plagiarism in academic writing.
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism is an unethical offence committed when a writer or author uses another author’s words or ideas without proper acknowledgement (by citing the source!). It is an academic and intellectual offense. and can lead to negative consequences like paper retractions and loss of author credibility.
What are the types of plagiarism?
Plagiarism is not limited to written works; it also includes the use of someone else’s concepts or techniques as well as the insertion of diagrams or even photographs without giving credit where credit is due. Not borrowing per se, but borrowing without acknowledgment or attribution, is unethical. Science is, after all, largely constructed piece by piece by researchers who expand upon or improve upon the work of their predecessors and current colleagues.
The different types of plagiarism include:
- Self-plagiarism is copying from your originally published work without acknowledging it.
- Verbatim plagiarism involves copying the original text word for word.
- Scattered or ‘mosaic’ plagiarism refers to copying small pieces of text that occur throughout the body of a research paper.
Why you should avoid plagiarism
There are a number of reasons why you should avoid plagiarism in your academic essay. A few of them include:
- It compromises academic integrity
- It loses respect from mentors and peers
- It can lead to the withdrawal of professional referrals and career advancement.
- In school, plagiarism may result in lost financial aid or leadership roles.
- It takes credit or profit from the original creator, potentially causing legal action against the source.
Consider your level of outrage if someone published a research study based on a methodology you developed after years of diligent labour without citing you by name or the original article you published outlining the approach. The fact that the writer has utilized your thoughts without giving credit makes someone a thief.
Effective Ways to Avoid Plagiarism in Academic Writing
Understand your topic
Understanding the topic you are asked to write on is the foundation of your journey to avoiding copying and pasting just about anything you see online or in a text. Ensure that you have a clear understanding of the requirements of the essay or the assignment. This will not only help you to stay on track in the course of the writing, but will also help you to focus on the best possible approach to writing such a piece of work. In addition, you can seek assistance from assignment writing service for additional support in situations where you are struggling with any aspect of the assignment.
Create An Outline
After you have a wholesome understanding of the assignment requirement and before you even start writing a word, create a holistic outline that serves as a roadmap for your writing. This will help you organize your thoughts and maintain a logical flow in your essay. Each section of the outline should present new ideas and different arguments with supporting pieces of evidence.
Allow ample time for writing and revision
You will agree with me that it is quicker to copy and paste than to generate fresh text. This is why most academics resort to plagiarism. To avoid plagiarism, start writing earlier and don’t wait until you approach the deadline so you have ample time to revise what you have written. Use your own words and create something new, even though you refer to the original where you got the idea. Remember that many journals routinely check every new manuscript for plagiarism, and if yours is rejected on that ground, you have lost valuable time.
Use quotation marks and give the source
One of the effective ways to avoid plagiarism is to provide a direct quotation of the original text, enclosed within quotation marks. This ensures that the original punctuation, italics, and spelling are retained. Quotes should be used to indicate that the text has been taken from another paper and should be the same as the paper you took it from.
It involves copying a piece of text word for word, but it should be introduced in your own words, enclosed in quotation marks, and correctly attributed to the original author.
Paraphrase the original text in your words and cite the source
Paraphrasing involves using your own words to explain something from a source, not just switching out words from a copy-pasted text. To paraphrase properly, you need to rewrite the author’s point in your own words to show that you have fully understood it. Avoid keeping the original in front of you to avoid switching out a few words from a copy-pasted text
Read widely on many topics and read good writers
A well-crafted academic essay relies on solid research from reliable sources like academic journals, books, and databases. Don’t just limit yourself to using one source when writing your assignments Importantly, ensure that the sources you use are current and relevant to your topic. Reading quality books helps absorb sentence construction and paraphrase effectively.
Present your own idea
In your writing, describe other people’s ideas or results (using references) and their importance to your argument, rather than simply copying what you’ve read. Avoid using cut-and-paste options in electronic material, as this encourages you to simply copy what you’ve read word for word.
Develop your own style
As a writer, academic, or researcher, you should develop your own style of writing that’s unique to you. Try to be concise and clear. Using the words of another author will stand out from the rest of your work and may alert lecturers to possible plagiarism.
Keep good-quality notes
Keeping a record of your sources when making notes is one of the effective ways to avoid plagiarism while writing. This helps in collecting references and making assignments easier. Tools like Endnote Web can help track references. Label your ideas and those of others in your notes, indicating author, source, and date. Keep records of sources and ideas taken from them for bibliographies and references cited lists. Good organization from the beginning is crucial for effective writing.
Maintain records of the sources you refer to
To avoid plagiarism, cross-check all citations and maintain accurate records. Use citation software like EndNote or Reference Manager to manage citations. Each citation should correspond to a full reference in the bibliography at the end of the paper. There are various citation styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago, but it’s crucial to apply one consistently throughout the text.
Conduct a plagiarism check on your manuscript
If you’re unsure about your writing skills, consider using plagiarism-check services to identify any sections that may be considered plagiarized. There are many online free plagiarism detector tools you can utilize to determine the extent of your paper’s plagiarism.
Summary
It’s important to read the original work carefully, understand the context, take good notes, and express it in your language without forgetting to cite the source. Using a plagiarism checker before submitting your paper can help identify potential issues like forgotten or misplaced citations, missing quotation marks, and paraphrased material too similar to the original text.
