Plagiarism involves using someone else's work without proper citation or acknowledgement. This includes directly copying or paraphrasing another's text, using their ideas without attribution, or presenting their information as your own. According to Rhodes State College, plagiarism can be intentional or unintentional. Most cases of plagiarism are accidental, due to negligence when citing sources. To avoid plagiarism, students must follow correct citation practices whenever using others' work and clearly acknowledge all sources of information.

1. Plagiarism
What it is and Why We Avoid It

2. So What is Plagiarism?
• According to the Rhodes State College Code of Student Conduct,
plagiarism “includes, but is not limited to, the unacknowledged use
(intentional or unintentional), by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the
published or unpublished work of another person. It also includes the
unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency
engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
Acknowledgement must be in accordance with course guidelines, and
documentation must occur whenever a student uses direct quotations;
copies a table, chart, or diagram; constructs a table from data provided
by others; paraphrases a passage; summarizes a passage; presents
specific examples, figures, or factual information from a specific source
and uses it to explain or support his/her judgments. Plagiarism covers
the use of print, electronic, filmed, and broadcast material.”

3. So What is Plagiarism? Cont.
• Essentially, what all that meant is that plagiarism is the act of
stealing someone else’s work, by taking their thoughts or words
and pretending they were your ideas.
• It’s pretty bad and could get you into serious trouble.
• TRUE OR FALSE: Most incidents of plagiarism are intentional.

4. FALSE: It’s typically unintentional.
• That’s right. Most of the time, it’s just a mistake when plagiarism
happens, typically because of negligence when citing.
• But following correct citation practices is your best way to avoid
plagiarism, because the consequences for plagiarism are severe.
• Be sure to click on the next tab at the top of the LibGuide to learn
proper citation practices and how to avoid plagiarism!