Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

 Hello Everyone,

This blog is a response to a thinking activity task which is assigned by Prakruti Ma’am as part of Research Methodology, on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity.

1. What is Plagiarism? Write in detail with its consequences, forms

Introduction

Plagiarism is the act of using another person’s words, ideas, facts, images, or creative work without giving proper credit to the original source. It is a form of academic dishonesty because it presents someone else’s work as one’s own. In research and academic writing, originality and honesty are very important; therefore, plagiarism is considered a serious ethical and academic offense.

1. Meaning of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when a writer:

• Copies exact words from a source without quotation marks and citation.

• Uses someone else’s ideas without acknowledging the source.

• Submits another person’s work as their own.

• Fails to properly document borrowed material.

It is not limited to books and articles; it can also involve copying from websites, classmates, journals, research papers, images, and even digital content.

2. Forms of Plagiarism

Plagiarism can appear in different forms:

a) Direct Plagiarism

Copying word-for-word from a source without quotation marks or citation.

b) Mosaic (Patchwork) Plagiarism

Mixing copied phrases from different sources into one’s own writing without proper acknowledgment.

c) Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Rewriting someone else’s ideas in slightly different words without giving credit.

d) Self-Plagiarism

Submitting one’s previously written work again without permission or acknowledgment.

e) Accidental Plagiarism

Failing to cite sources properly due to carelessness, lack of knowledge, or incorrect referencing style.

3. Causes of Plagiarism

• Lack of understanding about citation rules

• Poor time management

• Pressure to get high marks

• Lack of research and writing skills

• Carelessness in note-taking

4. Consequences of Plagiarism

Plagiarism has serious academic and professional consequences:

a) Academic Consequences

• Loss of marks or failing grades

• Cancellation of assignment or project

• Suspension or expulsion from institution

b) Professional Consequences

• Loss of job or reputation

• Legal action in serious cases

• Loss of credibility in academic and research fields

c) Ethical Consequences

• Damage to personal integrity

• Loss of trust from teachers and peers

• Harm to academic community standards

5. How to Avoid Plagiarism

• Always cite sources properly

• Use quotation marks for direct quotes

• Paraphrase correctly and still give credit

• Maintain proper notes during research

• Use plagiarism-checking tools if necessary

Conclusion

In conclusion, plagiarism is a serious academic offense that involves using someone else’s work without proper acknowledgment. It can take many forms, such as direct copying, improper paraphrasing, or self-plagiarism. The consequences can be severe, affecting academic performance, professional reputation, and personal integrity. Therefore, students and researchers must practice honesty, proper citation, and responsible writing to maintain academic integrity.

Respond to the following ethical dilemma prompts:

A student rewrites a scholarly paragraph by changing sentence structure and vocabulary but retains the same ideas and sequence of argument. They do not provide a citation because they believe they are “not copying anything.

1. How should this be treated under MLA guidelines?

This situation would still be treated as plagiarism. Under MLA guidelines. Even though the student has changed the sentence structure and vocabulary, they have retained the same ideas and sequence of argument. According to academic integrity principles, ideas belong to their original author. Simply rewriting the wording does not make the ideas original.

MLA guidelines clearly state that using another person’s ideas without giving proper credit is plagiarism, even if the wording is changed. Therefore, this is not acceptable academic practice.

2.  Does paraphrasing require citation?

Yes, paraphrasing absolutely requires citation.

Paraphrasing means expressing someone else’s ideas in your own words. However, the ideas still belong to the original author. MLA style requires that you provide:

• An in-text citation (parenthetical reference)

• A full entry in the Works Cited list

Citation is necessary whenever you use:

• Direct quotations

• Paraphrased ideas

• Summaries of another author’s argument

• Specific data, theories, or interpretations

Changing vocabulary does not remove the responsibility to cite.

3. What would you do in this situation and why?

If I were the student in this situation, I would immediately add a proper in-text citation and include the full source in the Works Cited page. Even though the paragraph has been rewritten in different words and sentence structure, the ideas and sequence of argument still belong to the original author, and MLA guidelines require acknowledgment of borrowed ideas. I would also review MLA documentation rules to ensure that my paraphrasing is correctly done and properly cited. I would take these steps because academic writing is based on honesty and integrity, and giving credit shows respect for another scholar’s intellectual work. Proper citation also strengthens my writing by demonstrating that my argument is supported by credible research. If I were the instructor, I would treat the situation as plagiarism but also consider whether it resulted from misunderstanding rather than intentional dishonesty. I would use it as a teaching opportunity to clarify that paraphrased ideas, not just direct quotations, require citation under MLA guidelines.

Two classmates study together, exchange notes, and discuss how to approach an essay. Their final essays are not identical in wording but share the same structure, examples, and argument path.

Is this plagiarism, collaboration, or something in between? How should credit or boundaries operate?

When two classmates study together, exchange notes, and discuss ideas, this is generally considered collaboration, which is often encouraged in academic settings. However, if their final essays share the same structure, examples, and argument path—even though the wording is different—the situation moves into a gray area between collaboration and plagiarism. Academic work is expected to reflect each student’s independent thinking and organization. If both essays follow the same outline, use the same supporting examples in the same order, and develop the argument in an identical way, it may suggest that the intellectual work was not independently produced.

Whether this counts as plagiarism depends on the instructor’s guidelines. If collaboration was allowed only at the brainstorming stage, but the drafting and structuring were meant to be individual, then submitting nearly identical frameworks could be considered improper collaboration or even academic misconduct. Plagiarism is not limited to copying words; it can also involve copying another person’s organization or argument without acknowledgment.

Clear boundaries should operate in such situations. Students may discuss general ideas, clarify concepts, and debate interpretations together. However, each student should independently create their thesis, structure, choice of examples, and development of arguments. If significant collaboration influenced the final product, students should consult the instructor to clarify expectations. Transparency is key—when in doubt, asking for guidance prevents ethical issues. Academic integrity requires that while discussion can inspire ideas, the final written work must represent each student’s own original thinking and organization.

A student uses two pages of their essay submitted in last semester’s course and integrates it into a new assignment without citing themselves.

Does MLA treat this as plagiarism? What is this type of plagiarism called? What would an ethical approach look like here?

Yes, under MLA guidelines and general principles of academic integrity, this situation is considered plagiarism. Even though the student is reusing their own work, submitting previously written material without acknowledgement is treated as a form of academic dishonesty because the assignment is expected to represent new, original work produced specifically for that course.

This type of plagiarism is called self-plagiarism. Self-plagiarism occurs when a student reuses part or all of a previously submitted paper without permission or without citing it properly. Although the words belong to the student, the work has already been evaluated for credit. Presenting it again as new work misleads the instructor and violates expectations of originality.

An ethical approach in this situation would involve transparency. The student should first check the instructor’s policy regarding reuse of previous work. If reuse is permitted, the student should clearly acknowledge that part of the material was adapted from an earlier assignment and, if required, cite it as an unpublished paper. Ideally, the student should revise, expand, or significantly develop the earlier material rather than simply inserting it unchanged. If permission is not granted, the student should produce entirely new work.

The key principle here is honesty. Academic integrity requires that all submitted work accurately represent when and for whom it was produced. Reusing previous writing without acknowledgment undermines that trust, whereas clear communication and proper citation uphold ethical academic practice.

Thank You!