FEBE - Electrical and Electronic Engineering Libguide: Plagiarism and Copyright

What is Plagiarism?

Many people think of plagiarism as copying another's work or borrowing someone else's original ideas. But terms like "copying" and "borrowing" can disguise the seriousness of the offense:

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarise" means:

• to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
• to use (another's production) without crediting the source
• to commit literary theft
• to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source

In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward

Plagiarism Policy

People plagiarize as a result of the following:

• Not knowing any better
• Pressure/competition
• Lack of confidence
• Work perceived as too difficult
• Lack of consequences
• Lack of interest or laziness
• Arrogance

 What are the consequences of plagiarism?

• Plagiarism is unethical because it is intellectual theft
• It is in conflict with the UJ Values of trust and academic integrity
• It shows disrespect for the rights of the original author
• It tarnishes the Universities reputation and diminishes the value of your qualifications
• It casts suspicion on the honest work of the students

To Avoid Plagiarism:

• Never Copy Directly

• Never Print Directly

• Never Copy From Other Students

 To Quote a Source:

• Always Use “Quotation Marks”

• Always Give Credit to the Source (Citing & Referencing)

To Paraphrase:

• Always Use Your Own WordsAlways,

• Give Credit to the Source

 To Use Common Knowledge:

• Always Use Facts Known by Many People

• No Citations Needed