top of page

Plagiarism

How to Avoid It and Why

 

Plagiarism is representing someone else's writing, thoughts, or information as if they were your own. In other words, if you include information in your assignments that is not common knowledge or from your own personal experience, you are committing plagiarism if you do not properly cite where you got that information from (even if you did not mean to). Moreover, you are committing self-plagiarism if you turn in your own previously completed work from another class as if it were new. Committing plagiarism either directly or indirectly has very significant repercussions, ranging from grade reduction in a course to suspension or expulsion from IOT (and even civil and criminal penalties).

 

Luckily, citing sources is straightforward and relatively easy—especially since you have access to a tutorial that leads you step-by-step through the process of citing your sources using APA Style (click any of the underlined links to learn how). There are two ways in which you must cite your sources:

  1. Through In-Text Citations in the main body of your essay

  2. and in the References Page at the end of your paper

 

**If you need additional help in citing your sources, please visit me in the LRC

or use the this form to send me a message.**

 

 

IOT's Academic Integrity Policy

 

Every student enrolled in the Institute of Technology is required to be familiar with IOT's policy on Academic Honesty, which is included below:

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Academic honesty on the part of all students at Institute of Technology, Inc is essential to individual growth and development. Upon admission to the IOT, students are obligated to uphold the highest ethical standards in academic endeavors. Failure to do so can seriously undermine and impede the educational process. Thus, any form of academic dishonesty is a serious concern to IOT and is therefore unacceptable. The following is a list of unacceptable types of behavior in relation to academic honesty. Since no listing can define all possible types of academic dishonesty, the following should be viewed as examples of infractions rather than an all-inclusive list:

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the misrepresentation of any part of another’s work as one’s own. While it is expected that students who are engaged in writing will utilize information from sources other than personal experience, acknowledgement of such sources is necessary. Examples of plagiarism include using a direct quotation without citing the source, paraphrasing the ideas or expressions of another without giving credit, and representing the thoughts of others as one’s own by failing to acknowledge or document sources. Additionally, plagiarism includes the submission as one’s own work any work that has been borrowed, stolen, or purchased from someone else.

 

Copyright Infringement Information

Copyright laws protect original works of authorship. The owner of a copyright has the exclusive right to the original work, including the right to copy the work, distribute the work, display or perform the work publicly, and create derivative works. A copyright interest attaches to an original work that is “fixed in any tangible medium of expression,” including traditional works like books, photographs, architectural drawings, music, drama and sculpture, as well as works affected by new technologies, like movies, electronic media, web pages, software, multimedia works and databases. The use of file-sharing networks to download and share copyrighted works without permission from the copyright owner, like software, music, movies, TV shows, games and images, violates copyright laws. In most instances, a student must obtain permission from the copyright owner in order to copy, distribute, display or perform a copyrighted work in any medium for any purpose. Any copyright infringement, including, without limitation, distribution of copyrighted material through unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, in connection with a student’s enrollment in a program of study at the school or conducted by a student through the use of the school’s equipment or information systems is prohibited and violates both the Conduct section of the school catalog and the law. Any student who engages in copyright infringement will be subject to discipline by the school, which may include, without limitation, the suspension or termination from one or more courses the student is taking or the student’s entire program of study at the school and the referral to the proper authorities. Copyright infringement may also subject the student to civil and criminal liabilities. A summary of the penalties for violating federal copyright laws include:

  • Unlimited actual damages proven for each act of copyright infringement.

  • Up to $30,000 for each act of copyright infringement that is determined not to be willful.

  • Up to $150,000 for each act of copyright infringement that is determined to be willful.

  • Criminal penalties.

 

Cheating

Cheating implies conducting matters fraudulently so as to profit oneself. Some examples of cheating include the copying of an examination, assignment or other work to be evaluated, unauthorized collaboration on work to be evaluated, “cribbing” and submitting work for which previous credit has already been received in another course without the express consent of the instructor.

 

Theft

Theft includes the stealing of another’s work or work materials such as laboratory endeavors, computer programs, class projects, and library materials. Disciplinary action against those who have violated the IOT’s Academic Honesty Policy may include:

  • Grade reduction on the assignment in question.

  • A failing grade in the course.

  • Suspension or dismissal from IOT.

The instructor will document any act of academic dishonesty and a report will be filed in the office of the Director of Education. Students who believe that the penalty assigned by the instructor is inappropriate or unfair may appeal the penalty by scheduling an appointment with the Director of Education requesting an Academic Review of the grievance.

 

                                       from the 2015 Institute of Technology (California Campuses) Catalog (pp. 22-23)

 

 

TEST YOUR PLAGIARISM IQ

Take the Following Quiz to See if You Know What You Need to Know About Plagiarism

LRC & LIBRARY HOURS

M-TH 8:00 AM-9:00 PM

Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

bottom of page