Any student that has an assignment to complete would be
aware of the challenges surrounding the writing process. The vast number of
variables that have to be accounted for, ranging from the validity and
relevancy of data, all the way to presentation and analysis. However, amid all
these steps, there is something that bothers students immensely, and that is
plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as the reproduction and copying of someone
else’s content without mentioning the name of its original author. Although
this might be willingly or unwillingly, the act of plagiarism is reprehensible
and can result in your paper being discredited and possibly penalized.
Students around the world work their hardest to write their
assignments and papers, with some spending multiple hours a day writing their
articles, and that takes time and effort. Even the slightest amount of
plagiarism can lay waste to these contributions, which is something no student
ever wants to happen. This, in addition to the negative emotions associated
with copying someone else's work, is undesirable for any student. As most
colleges around the world have strict policies against plagiarism, the risk of
getting caught is just not worth it. Students have been reprimanded, and even
rusticated from institutions as a consequence of plagiarism.
Why is avoiding plagiarism important?
Avoiding plagiarism is an essential part of writing any assignment
for several reasons. For the most part, the avoidance of plagiarism is an
entirely positive habit that is essential for any student to excel in their
academics.
Original Perspective
Plagiarizing someone else’s work doesn’t allow you to
explain your own perspective. For your professors, it is necessary to
demonstrate your own understanding of the subject rather than use existing
content and feigning knowledge. The process of searching for information,
researching, analysis, experiments and diligence is clearly visible in your
assignment. Besides, the hard work and dedication required to write plagiarism
free assignments cause you to learn a great deal about the topic and subject.
This learning might be assessed by your professors, and using plagiarized
assignments can get you caught and possibly punished as well.
Higher Marks
An assignment that is copied from the web or any other
resource is also likely to be copied by other students. This would mean that
the information and data that make up your assignment wouldn't really bring
anything new to the table. Now, imagine if half of your class decided to
plagiarize from the same assignment and not make any changes. In that
situation, the entire class is likely to get the same grades, regardless of
their minuscule changes in writing and presentation.
Proper References
A student that has been careful and diligent in completing
their assignment would’ve researched multiple sources of information to get the
data they need. Journals, websites, magazines, articles and other pieces of
data need to be referenced if used. A plagiarized assignment would otherwise be
missing these references, opening your paper to greater scrutiny and possible
penalization.
How can plagiarism in assignments be avoided?
In a basic sense, it might seem difficult to see yourself
completing an assignment all by your own without any external help. This can be
solved by following the tips and methods listed below.
Use Your Personal
Notes
The notes you make when in class and studying go on to become
the foundation for your assignment. If you feel that you've missed a class or
have incomplete notes, it is a common thing to ask a friend or peer to lend
their notes to you. The problem though lies in using the copied notes in
writing your assignment. As mentioned in the above section, the usage of third
party notes makes your assignment represent the perspective of someone else.
Your own records would give your assignment a more personal perspective, which
can easily be assessed if the need arises.
Write In Your Own Way
If you have a habit of reading pieces, papers and notes
written by other people, you may unknowingly emulate their writing style in
your assignment. Although taking inspiration from other, more experienced
writers isn't a bad thing, it definitely is if you let your assignment look
like something written by them. The information obtained from different sources
needs to be written down in your own words only. For this reason, it is a good
thing to practice creative writing in your free time to find out your true
style of writing.
Research Well
In the process of searching for information to include in
your assignments, the sources you lookup need to be credible and original. If
you decide to take the easy way out and use data readily available online, your
assignment might end up being categorized as average and will be graded
precisely so. Instead of taking that route, you can research on your own and
study that information. Not only will that allow you to understand the topic at
hand, but also make it possible for you to write it better. Never underestimate
the power and value of proper research, especially in academic settings.
Utilize Plagiarism
Checking Software
If you've written some part of your assignment and want to
know if any instances of plagiarism are found, you can simply take the help of
software tools that are designed to do exactly that. Although some tools are
paid and others are free, the way they work is largely the same. First, the
text you input into these tools is looked upon online sources and libraries by
the sentence. Then, any instances of plagiarism that are spotted are
highlighted and presented in a text box or a different file, known as a
plagiarism report. From this information, you can know which sentences are plagiarized
and can make suitable corrections to rectify it.
Provide Citations
Your assignment needs to be written according to the format
it’s needed in. When this work was being assigned, you will be informed about
the citation style you would have to follow. Although this is a straightforward
aspect of writing assignments, it might be confusing to a novice student. In
this situation, you could inquire about the citation style to your teacher or
instructor, and get help that way. It might seem reasonable to look for a cheap assignment writing service and
let them handle the task. However, that should only be employed once you have
tried your best.
Editing your assignment
After the writing process is over, the only step left is to
edit the assignment to hone it completely. Before you pick up your pens and get
to work, it is a good idea to take a day or two off to calm yourself and give
your mind enough time to relax. A calm mind works best, and by editing your
assignment with one, you will be able to work well on your paper and ensure better
quality. The editing process needs to be comprehensive, and no part of your
assignment should be ignored. Editing doesn’t only mean removing any mistakes,
but also any unnecessary or extra information. Your assignment needs to be
concise and provide information precisely as needed. This is also an excellent
time to check your references and make sure that they're written and
appropriately cited.