Plagiarism and How to Avoid it: About

Guide on Plagiarism and how to avoid it

About this Guide

This guide contains information and resources on referencing and citation and tips on how to avoid plagiarism. It was created by Lee Yen Han and is maintained by Patiswa Zibani. For feedback/comments on this guide, contact me via the Email Me box on the right.

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News Flash

Scientist leaves Swinburne after journals retract 30 studies over plagiarism claims
Sydney Morning Herald (26 Oct, 2019)

'1 Out of 5 Million' Serbian Protests Resume, Shine Spotlight On Plagiarism
Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty (29 Sept, 2019)

Plagiarism Scandal Involving the Minister of Science and Education Still Stirs Croatia
Global Voices (27 May, 2017)

Paper About Plagiarism Contains Plagiarism
Discovery Magazine (17 May, 2017)

UK universities in ‘plagiarism epidemic’ as almost 50,000 students caught cheating over last 3 years
The Independent (4 Jan, 2016)

Academics sacked for plagiarism
Arab News (21 May, 2015)

Yusof Haslam, son in plagiarism trial on Oct 19
The Star (6 Feb, 2015)

Enrique Iglesias Accused Of Plagiarism Over 'Bailando' Song
International Business Times (30 Jan, 2015)

Romanian PM gives up doctorate after years of plagiarism allegations
The Independent (21 Dec, 2014)

Columnist Fareed Zakaria faces new accusations of plagiarism
Washington Post (19 Aug, 2014)

Why Politicians Plagiarize So Often
The New Yorker (29 July, 2014)

A Brief History of Shia LaBeouf Copying the Work of Others
Time (10 Feb, 2014)

Scholar accused of plagiarism
Saudi Gazette (19 Jan, 2014)

Scandal forces Ma to pick yet another defence chief
South China Post (7 Aug, 2013)

What is Plagiarism?

The theft of ideas (such as the plots of narrative or dramatic works) or of written passages or works, where these are passed off as one's own work without acknowledgement of their true origin; or a piece of writing thus stolen. Plagiarism is not always easily separable from imitation, adaptation, or pastiche , but is usually distinguished by its dishonest intention.

"plagiarism" The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. 2008. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press (emphasis mine).

KAUST Policy on Plagiarism

"Submitting a written document (homework, term paper, research findings, publication, etc.) that in part or in whole is not one’s own work, whether it be a quotation, an opinion, an idea obtained through conversation or reading, a fact, or research findings, without giving proper attribution through a citation specifying the source of the information."

(Graduate Student Handbook, 2021-2022; p.77)

Types of Plagiarism

Some typical types of plagiarism:

Type of Plagiarisms	Description
	The Ghost Writer The writer copies another writer's work, word-for-word, and submits it as his own.
	The Photocopy The writer copies not the entire work, like the Ghost Writer, but significant portions of a single work, without alterations.
	The Potluck Paper The writer tries to disguise plagiarism by copying and mixing work from several different sources.
	The Too-Perfect Paraphrase The writer does not indicate in quotation marks text that has been copied from other writers although he has provided citations.
	The Recycler/ Self-stealer The writer submits the same assignment more than once for different courses or reuse materials from his or her previous work.