Plagiarism

Definition

Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's work or ideas without proper attribution, presenting them as one's own. It is considered a serious academic offense and can result in severe consequences for students.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Plagiarism violates academic integrity policies and can lead to disciplinary actions, including failing grades or expulsion.
2. In biology, plagiarism can occur when students copy lab reports, research papers, or data without proper citation.
3. Using paraphrased material without giving credit is also considered plagiarism.
4. Proper citation styles like APA or MLA must be used to avoid plagiarism in scientific writing.
5. Plagiarism detection software tools are often employed by educational institutions to identify instances of unoriginal work.

Review Questions

• What are the consequences of committing plagiarism in an academic setting?
• How can you properly attribute sources to avoid plagiarism in your biology research paper?
• Why is it important to use citation styles like APA or MLA in scientific writing?

Related terms

Citation: The act of acknowledging the original source of information or ideas used in one's work.

Paraphrasing: Restating information from a source using different words while maintaining the original meaning.

Academic Integrity: Adherence to ethical principles and standards in education, including honesty and fairness.