Library Tutorial - Information Ethics - Plagiarism

Scholarly research and progress are based on the proper use of other people's ideas and written work.  Ideas and concepts are built on others' works, but scholars must attribute the proper credit to the person who came up with that idea.  Taking the intellectual property of another person and gaining an unearned benefit without giving credit to them is plagiarism. Plagiarism is the improper use (stealing) of words, phrases or ideas (intellectual property).  The scholars who came before you must be acknowledged and credit must be given to them through references and citations. Your proper use of references and citations displays your skill as a researcher and depth of knowledge of your subject. Remember creators have to be cited even if the item is hundreds of years old and not covered under copyright law. You need not cite common knowledge, but it is safest if you think of common knowledge as only the most basic facts.

As you learned in the previous module, Academic Integrity, Radford University takes plagiarism very seriously and its discovery can lead to expulsion. You should be aware that in the fall of 2002 the University of Virginia expelled 45 students and revoked the degrees of three alumni who were found guilty of plagiarism.

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