Plagiarism An Ethical Crime

July 21st, 2010

Today I wish to share my piece of knowledge with you about plagiarism. Although, commonly termed as an act of intellectual dishonesty, plagiarism is actually a crime that too an ethical one. Many of you will agree that as the world has grown technologically, so have the tools and means for the plagiarists. Computer, internet, and latest communication tools provide easy opportunities to these dodgers to access a large amount of material, and use it to their advantage. Those with lesser intellect (plagiarists) have found more ways, and means to prove them better, or even equal to the ones having genuine capability to produce original stuff.
You must have observed that plagiarists have been encouraged by declaring these as smart workers, whereas the original writers are being called as hard workers. This smart vis-à-vis hard worker theme has actually emboldened the plagiarists, as these are time and energy savers, and can manage more amount of work than the ones capable of producing original work. The tricks of the trade of these plagiarists include Copy and Paste, Use of Thesaurus, Shifting of Phrases amongst the Paragraphs, etc.

 

Though, constant efforts, and improvements are being made to safeguard the original work from being plagiarised at the cyber level, yet no elaborate systems of protection has been devised in the overall system of literary world. Even, at the societal levels, these acts are not even termed as major crimes; rather a little simplistic view prevails for them. Moreover, as plagiarism affects the educated class only, who are mostly genuine, and gentle people, therefore a lenient and tolerant attitude is shown from them against the plagiarists. However, in-depth analyses highlights that these plagiarists indirectly plays with the sentiments of original writers/authors, which directly targets that well educated class of society.

 

To discourage these plagiarists, the first step, which must be immediately taken, is to declare these as ethical criminals, and plagiarism as ethical crime. Only through the stringent measures, we can save the original work, and their website content writers.

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Advantages Of Question And Answer Websites

May 17th, 2010

What if you have a question and you do not have an access to the right person, to whom you can ask, and find out the answer? No problem, there is a solution that is on your fingertips, and of course, is easily accessible. Yes, it is the internet Q and A knowledge storehouse offering a mighty repository of answers to questions of all types, shapes, and sizes.

Here we are not specifically talking about FAQs (frequently asked question), but we are discussing those specific websites called as Answer Question Websites where one can ask any type of question. In addition, these Answer Boards are not the discussion board websites where from one question numerous other questions arise. Going online means one is sitting in front of you, and answering to your questions.

Before there were not many answers websites, but with the passage of time, their number is immensely increasing. The question arises why there is an increase. Answer to this question is because people find it a very easy and quick way to get a response. They do not have to go to libraries, and search books after books to find specific, and to the point answer. Not only books, but also people do not have to ponder about on different websites.

However, in these websites, one finds the amalgamation of all the websites into an answer given briefly. Just go to specific site, write words in the search engine, and obtain the answer without any cost. In these online platforms, one can post the question, and catch a reply from novices to the experts. So keep on questioning, as a famous Chinese proverb says, one who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.

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Double Check!

May 17th, 2010

It does not matter if it is legalised or not, plagiarism is a form of an intellectual property theft. As Internet enables an effortless plagiarism, it has become a lot more difficult to deal with it. To counter the Plagiarism industry, an altogether new industry has been spawned: websites and software designed to detect plagiarism.

Many of the universities, colleges, and even companies use the softwares and engines to check the examination papers, assignments, articles, and other content for any signs of content theft.

Numerous softwares have been developed for the detection, prevention, reporting, and non-repudiation of the plagiarised work. Google Alerts, Copyscape, Technorati Watchlists are the tools used for the detection of copied content. Once detected, plagiarism has to be stopped. Fortunately, there are several tools to help such as CopyFeed, and EBay Vero Programme. Likewise, Numly, Registered Commons, Archive.org, and Furl are great services to help verify the creation of your work.

The major benefit of using plagiarism detection software is that it will restrain students from copying stuff of others. If students feel obliged that they are answerable to their professor, as they will run all submitted papers through a plagiarism detector, such as TurnItIn.com, then it is likely to prevent them from even attempting to plagiarise their assignments, and better to rely on their own intellectual skills. Secondly, it is also difficult on the part of instructors to check each paper individually for any plagiarised content. Anti-plagiarism tools provide them with the ability to search through a huge internet database for any possible plagiarism.

Awareness about intellectual disobedience along with these detection, and prevention tools can help a lot in countering plagiarism. These tools may not be a perfect, or a long-term solution, but they certainly have empowered content writers with potent means of monitoring, and enforcing their content rights.

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Plagiarism Explained By A Writer

May 7th, 2010

Writing is never easy as it requires lot of research and pen down everything in your own words. I still find many people saying writing is really easy. Well, they say it because they commit plagiarism by finding material from the internet and use as it is in their reports and articles.

As a writer, I know how necessary it is to produce quality and unique stuff. Plagiarism is a sin for us which can ban us for lifetime. We are always allowed to surf the internet and find the material on which we want to write, however, we are never allowed to copy any sentence written by another author.

If you are an academic writer, you better know about plagiarism. In this piece of writing, you give reference of the author and the books from where you quote a particular saying. Proper referencing is the most essential part of academic writing.

If you are a researched writer, you may not need referencing as the focus is on one topic. As an avid writer, though I always use my own words for writing articles, advertorials, press releases, web content, spinning articles and blogs, still I use plagiarism software to be on the safer side.

Many people who come on the internet to earn from home as a freelance writer, very easily disappear in a matter of days when they produce copied stuff. There are very few who actually have been able to survive in content writing world just because they know how to treat words properly. You can altogether defeat plagiarism if you have good English vocabulary and know how to effectively use it to produce unique content.

I suggest all people who write content for websites or articles to always write in your own words and use free plagiarism detection software program to check if you are on legal track to produce exclusive content.

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What Qualities Make an Answer Web Site More Successful?

March 6th, 2010

There are so many question answer websites that its mind boggling. In fact there are over 89 million question answer websites right now. But what most people who are looking for answers to a pertinent question want are quality answers. An answer that is correct and can be authenticated is what serious users of question answer web sites want. Some question answer websites require registration. But if the quality of answers provided by these sites is good, people don’t mind registering. Also as long as they know that any personal information that they disclose will not get misused.

Another quality that a good question answer website should have is speedy answers. When a question is asked by a person he or she is looking for a fast reply. For this a good question answer website should have a team of well read and qualified people who can give accurate and reliable answers. Sites that depend on other people answering questions on their websites should be avoided. In my personal experience I have seen that most answers you get are wrong or frivolous. Another factor a quality question answer website should ensure is that answers are not plagiarized. Doing a copy paste is just not on and is unethical.

Quality answer question websites should not return a number of websites where you can find an answer. I would rather use the search engine to give me a list of websites where I can find an answer. A good quality question answer website should have categories listed. This makes it easier for users to find answers. There is absolutely no point in asking a mathematical or scientific question on a social answering website. Quality question answer websites should be ranked according to the quality of answers provided by them and not by being search engine optimized.

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Plagiarism: The Human Psyche

February 11th, 2010

It is a big question about the psyche of a plagiarizer, what formulate the mind towards the plagiarism? Is it indirect appreciation for the writer’s idea and literary effort or this stealing is kind of a psychological syndrome?  Human mind has a tendency to incline towards negativity then positivism. Some overpower this inclination with their willpower, some unconsciously become victim and the conscious effort look for the appreciation afterwards. Person belongs to the side of negativity can perform an unlawful act anytime without giving any thought to its effect on him as well as other individuals.

Steeling the mind is not only a phrase; in this era of modernization, where so many other things are transforming, this expression also came out of its lateral form. Concept of plagiarism is not the invention of 19th century; this concept is as old as the human history would be, 20th century just boosted the idea, made it more convenient and led plagiarizers towards simpler and easy way through computers and internet, where copy then past just a click matter.

However, you can call it easy way out from the stress situation, where you are crossing the deadlines, want to make an impression on people around, getting more money out of some cheating work, or its adrenaline thrush for you to create disturbance by fighting with the copyright laws. What ever the reason you come a cross with, it’s immoral and against the act of dignity. Where one loses it, lose it for the whole life.

You are plagiarizing consciously, copying your class fellow’s work, taking references without acknowledging author, rephrasing or cluttering the original sentences to bring the difference for reader, or  whatever the purpose behind, eventually, you are effecting the society minute to higher level. Unfortunately, this dishonesty and immoral act of plagiarism is going on and on, the disease also transforming into the generations without the proper awareness, because unconscious plagiarism is also an undeniable fact. Controlling the followers of this convenient route is not difficult but long term process, as soft wares are available in the market for word-to-word plagiarism, at least to some extent it is controllable. So we have to consider the way out for future.

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Types of Plagiarism

January 2nd, 2010

If you leave your designation over someone else’s work this act is taken as plagiarism. Plagiarism means that you imitate someone else’s wordings, composition and opinions but you can do so in two cases whether deliberately or accidentally.

Following are some ways regarding plagiarism:
You have plagiarised the information if it is copied from some other location and is devoid of acknowledgments,

It is also plagiarism if you pay money for the information and show off as your own,

If you make someone else write for you and leave your designation in that it is also plagiarism no matter if you have also paid for it.

Here are some types of plagiarism:

If you make use of someone else’s words and don’t give credit to it this plagiarism is taken as word for Word Plagiarism.

If you use identical wordings but modify a number of words such sort of plagiarism is called Paraphrase Plagiarism.

If you use someone else’s opinion and notions, you must present accurate acknowledgment to that person and then express your views. If you don’t do so and make use of someone else’s ideas, keywords and phrases, it will be named as Spot Plagiarism.

Plagiarism truly puts bad impression about you and your work. Owing plagiarism means one has lost all the reputation and trust.

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Which Citation Style Should You Use?

December 17th, 2009

Citation is providing references in your intellectual work. It is acknowledging another author or writer whose work has been used to support your writing. As providing references or ‘citation’ is of grave importance to avoid any charges of plagiarism, proper citation of references is also crucial. Moreover, Citation brings credibility and authenticity to your work.

One important thing to keep in mind is that the basic purpose of citation is to facilitate the reader. There are many citation styles that you can adopt to support your research. Many academic institutions clearly state the citation styles they prefer in students works that may include term papers, researches, thesis, dissertations, assignments etc. You can also ask your teacher for the citation style they want in your work. If you are not given any standardized citation requirements by your institution or your teacher you can use any of the following:

  • APA Style is used in any research or writing related to social sciences; psychology, education etc.
  • Turbian Style is mostly adopted by college students to be used in all subjects.
  • AMA Style is used in research works of medicine, health and biological sciences.
  • MLA Style is mostly used in works of literature, arts and humanities.
  • Chicago Style is used in writings for books, magazines, newspapers, and other such non-scholarly publications.

You can use your library resources or you can use a search engine to get details on these citation styles and their formatting guidelines. Which ever citation style you use it should be accurate, clear and consistent.

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Tips On Writing Website Content

December 3rd, 2009

Writing for the ‘world wide web’ or the internet has become a well paid profession. Writers from all across the world are involved in writing for web pages, E-zines, online business sites, blogs, article sites etc. However effective web writing involves deliberate effort. Your web content has to cater to different levels of interests of the readers. Keeping in view some of these vital points you can produce a web content that is clear and usable.

Always adopt a writing style that is concise and to the point. This is the first and the foremost thing to take into consideration when writing website content. Use short sentences and fewer words to convey your ideas and thoughts. The web content has to be 50% shorter as compared to the print content. So the shorter, the better.

Web content should always be easy to scan. Studies show that online readers scan text rather than reading the text word by word. The use of highlighted text, bold format, bullets, numbered lists, points, coloured text, and hyperlinks help the readers in scanning the written content.

Writing style should be objective rather than promotional. A written content that is objective in style builds credibility. Avoid using exaggerated claims, promotional words and unnecessary adjectives.

Put your conclusion or the focal point of your writing in the first paragraph, as the readers on the web are impatient and can lose interest before reaching to the main point. So grab their attention in the start to avoid losing your reader.

Last but not the least, use clear and meaningful titles and headlines. As your title or headline is the first piece of information, that you offer the reader. Your headline or the title should give the basic idea of the written content.

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Academic Plagiarism Penalties

November 14th, 2009

As academic plagiarism is prevailing at both school and college levels, teachers and academic authorities are becoming more conscious to curtail it at all costs. They are improvising strategies to detect plagiarism and assigning penalties for academic plagiarism. Moreover, schools and colleges are taking adverse actions against students who are involved in intentional and repeated acts of plagiarism.

Amongst the various penalties of academic plagiarism some include:

  • Failing an assignment
  • Low Grades
  • Zero Marking
  • Warnings
  • Referring to Honour Council
  • Suspension
  • Promotion Restricted
  • Expulsion
  • Revoked Diplomas (after graduation)

Any one of these penalties greatly affects a student’s future. He loses his trust and credibility, not only among teachers and instructors but also among his fellow students. The student who gets expelled is unable to find admission in other institutions. And if his/her diploma or degree gets revoked / cancelled, years of effort, time and money gets wasted.

Academic authorities believe that students should know what comes under plagiarism and must take necessary measures to avoid it at all costs. They are increasing awareness about plagiarism and its penalties. Knowing the adverse effects of plagiarism, many students try their level best to avoid it as far possible. However, chances of unintentional plagiarism still exist but mostly the penalty granted in these cases is not as severe as in the case of an intentional intellectual offense.

To best avoid chances of including plagiarised material in their research work and assignments, students are depending upon plagiarism checking sites and plagiarism detection softwares.

These plagiarism tools are effective and fast. Most of these plagiarism detection sites are offering free services so any one can use them at anytime. These sites provide accurate information so students can completely rely on them completely, saving themselves from severe penalties of plagiarism.

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