Definition of Plagiarism

South Georgia College follows the Modern Language Association’s definition of “plagiarism”:

Derived from the Latin word plagiarius (“kidnapper”), plagiarism refers to a form of cheating that has been defined as “the false assumption of authorship: the wrongful act of taking the product of another person’s mind, and presenting it as one’s own” (Alexander Lindey, Plagiarism and Originality [New York: Harper, 1952 2). Plagiarism involves two kinds of wrongdoing. Using another person’s ideas, information, or expressions without acknowledging that person’s work constitutes intellectual theft. Passing off another person’s ideas, information, or expressions as your own to get a better grade or gain some other advantage constitutes fraud. Plagiarism is sometimes a moral and ethical offence rather than a legal one since some instances of plagiarism fall outside the scope of copyright infringement, a legal offence.

Plagiarism is almost always seen as a shameful act, and plagiarists are usually regarded with pity and scorn. They are pitied because they have demonstrated their inability to develop and express their own thoughts. They are scorned because of their dishonesty and their willingness to deceive others for personal gain. (Gibaldi 66)

The act and practice of plagiarism is not only sometimes criminally prosecutable and always dishonest and shameful but it is also intellectually lazy and deprives the plagiarist of an education. Examples of plagiarism include:

1. Any quotation, rewording, paraphrase, or summary of another person’s words, thoughts, ideas, opinions, or theories without appropriate acknowledgement.*

2. The presentation in any form of another’s artistic, literary, scientific, or other creative work as one’s own.

3. Allowing someone else to write one’s paper; copying, buying, or stealing either in part or in its entirety one’s paper from another source such as a book, an article, or the internet.

*Appropriate acknowledgement includes, but is not limited to, quotation marks around quoted material and citation appropriate to the discipline. See the APA and MLA guidelines.

Faculty members reserve the right to add to these rules at their discretion. Any addition to the rules will be plainly stated in said faculty member’s syllabus. Ignorance of these rules does not constitute innocence and is not an excuse for plagiarism.

Penalties for Plagiarism

For each act of plagiarism, the penalty shall be imposed by the instructor. Some violations may result in additional disciplinary actions imposed by the college, including expulsion.

Citation Guides

SGC Library Resources

• SGC Library Citation Guide (for documenting online sources in both APA and MLA styles)

• How to Avoid Plagiarism

• Citation Style for Research Papers

Works Cited

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6^th ed. New York: MLA, 2003. 66.