Information Literacy Learning Guides

Key Concepts & Practice

 

Plagiarism

Definition:       Plagiarize \'pla-je-,riz also j - -\ vb -rized; -riz�ing vt [plagiary] : to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (a created production) without crediting the source vi: to commit literary theft: present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source - pla�gia�riz�er n         FROM: Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary 9th ed, (Springfield, Ma: Merriam 1981, p. 870).

Plagiarism means taking credit for someone else's words, ideas or works. This has always been an important academic idea but with the advent of the Web and the new 'copy and paste' mentality of the Internet generation, it has become more prevalent and serious. It is important to 'give credit where credit is due'. When you use some else's ideas and words - give them credit in your bibliography or work sited page.

There is also something called 'common knowledge'. This information or material is generally known, folklore or generally shared information. An example of this would be that George Washington was our first president.