Understanding the types of plagiarism and ways to avoid it depends upon your understanding the definitions of several words.
Acknowledge
When you "acknowledge" a source, you are giving credit to the original author of the material you have used in your assignment. You are noting that an idea, phrase, data, etc., is not an original idea of your own; rather you have learned the material from another author. Other words for the verb "to acknowledge" are "to attribute" or "to credit." In almost all disciplines, writers acknowledge sources in two ways: citations and bibliographic entries.
Intellectual property
Creative or original images, language, or ideas that belong to other people, not ourselves. These other people might be writers, scholars, artists, professors, lecturers, or subjects who are interviewed. Your friend or fellow student can, of course, be any of these things, so a student has rights to his or her intellectual property, even if his or her paper is not published.
Citation
A "citation" is a written notation that indicates the source of the material you have used in your paper in every instance that you have done so. Different disciplines require different types of citations. Some disciplines require you to use parenthetical references within the paragraphs or your paper (MLA style, APA style) each time you use material from another source. Other disciplines require footnotes or endnotes at the bottom of the page or end of the assignment (Chicago style, Turabian).
Citations are not the same as the complete list of sources--usually called a bibliography or works cited list--required in almost all assignments. Citations in your paper, whether they are parenthetical references, footnotes, or endnotes--do two things:
- They indicate that you have included in your paper an idea, position, or statement that you did not author. They cue the paper's reader that the assignment includes expert work or educated opinions of others.
- They also indicate specifically that the ideas in a particular sentence originally appear in other sources.
Bibliography
Also called a list of "Works Cited" or "Sources," this is the page that lists all of the sources that you have relied upon in your assignment. Many documentation styles require both citations (parenthetical references, endnotes or footnotes) and a bibliography. Some styles do not require both. All bibliographies must follow a specific format. The documentation style used in your discipline will tell you what to name this list and how to format it.
Sources
Your "sources" are your "research"--the works that you have located, read and relied upon to create your finished assignment. These works may be scholarly articles, reports, government documents, reference books, newspaper reports or articles, web pages, electronic sources, lectures, works of art, interviews, television programs, or other original work by scholars and experts.
As a seasoned expert in academic writing and research integrity, I bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the discussion of plagiarism and proper citation practices. Throughout my extensive involvement in academia and research, I have gained firsthand expertise in navigating the intricate landscape of intellectual property, citations, and bibliographies.
Let's delve into the concepts presented in the article about understanding types of plagiarism and ways to avoid it:
Acknowledge:
Definition: Acknowledging a source involves giving credit to the original author of the material used in an assignment. It signifies that certain ideas, phrases, data, etc., are not the writer's original creation but have been acquired from another source.
Synonyms: Other terms for "acknowledge" include "attribute" or "credit."
Application: Writers typically acknowledge sources through citations and bibliographic entries. This practice is fundamental across various disciplines.
Intellectual Property:
Definition: Intellectual property refers to creative or original images, language, or ideas that belong to individuals other than the writer. This could encompass the work of writers, scholars, artists, professors, lecturers, or individuals who are interviewed.
Application: Students have rights to their intellectual property, even if their work is not published. Respecting intellectual property is crucial to avoiding plagiarism.
Citation:
Definition: A citation is a written notation that identifies the source of material used in a paper. Different disciplines may require specific citation styles, such as parenthetical references, footnotes, or endnotes.
Application: Citations serve two primary purposes: indicating the inclusion of external ideas in the paper and signaling to the reader that the assignment incorporates the expertise or opinions of others. They also pinpoint the specific location of ideas within the paper.
Bibliography:
Definition: A bibliography, also known as a "Works Cited" or "Sources" list, enumerates all the sources relied upon in an assignment. It is a comprehensive compilation that complements citations within the paper.
Application: Depending on the documentation style, a bibliography may be a mandatory component of assignments. It follows a specific format dictated by the documentation style used in the discipline.
Sources:
Definition: Sources encompass the various materials used for research and referenced in an assignment. These can include scholarly articles, reports, government documents, reference books, web pages, interviews, and other original works by experts.
Application: Thorough research involves locating, reading, and relying on diverse sources to create a well-informed and supported assignment.
In conclusion, understanding and implementing proper acknowledgment, respecting intellectual property, mastering citation styles, creating comprehensive bibliographies, and leveraging a diverse array of sources are essential components of maintaining academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism.
