HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM: USEFUL INFO, TIPS, AND FREE PLAGIARISM SCANNERS
WHAT IS PLAGIARISM? Every student has heard of plagiarism, but what is it exactly? By definition, plagiarism is “the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.”[i] In other words, plagiarism is theft. It is against the rules in all academic institutions and, though not a criminal offense, can be detrimental to one’s academic career. What happens to students who plagiarize is entirely up to their academic institution: consequences range from a stern warning to expulsion, depending on the severity of the case and the institution’s policy.
Of course, not all plagiarism is done on purpose: often, students make citation errors or
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The MIT Academic Integrity page suggests using synonyms for non-generic words and using a different sentence structure and voice than that of the original.[v] It is also important to cite all paraphrased material, even if the text no longer resembles the original, as the ideas are still borrowed. 3. Unintentional Plagiarism Unintentional plagiarism happens, well, unintentionally. It can be the result of incorrect or incomplete citation or a heavy reliance on outside material, even if it is properly credited. Remember, stitching together the ideas and work of other scholars (even with correct citations) does not count as original work. How to avoid it:
Become familiar with the citation style(s) common to your academic discipline. The three most popular styles are: MLA, APA, and CMS. Each style has its own format and rules, which should be followed exactly to produce acceptable bibliographies and in-text citations. Complete style guides are sold in bookstores or can be found online for
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These programs will compare your work to all available sources and detect duplicate content in minutes. This way, you will have the chance to correct any mistakes before you turn in your paper. Some online content scanners even include spelling and grammar checkers. Many duplicate content scanners are geared towards professional SEO and online writers, but don’t let that deter you – SEO scanners are also excellent for students. Listed below are 5 of the best free plagiarism checkers with a short overview of the pros and cons of each service.
1. COPYLEAKS PROS:
- Results show percentage of unique vs copied content + links to original
- Great for academic and online/business content CONS:
- Must sign up to start checking.
- Limited to 10 free checks per month – a downside for those checking many assignments. 2. VIPER PROS:
- User-friendly and simple: drag-and-drop or upload files
- Results show percentage of unique vs copied content + links to