Why shouldn't you plagiarize?

Simply put, plagiarism is the act of copying someone else’s work and pretending that it is your own. This can be in the form of stealing ideas, words, texts, and other types of content from their original author. Don’t forget: Plagiarism has consequences too.  Most schools have a zero-tolerance policy: you can fail the assignment or project, fail the course, and if you’re in college, you can even get expelled from school. Mostly, however, plagiarism can damage your personal reputation, and that may be the hardest thing to fix.

It is an issue because:

• it hinders learning objectives and skill developement.

• it misrepresents authorship (who has done the work).

• it misrepresents student knowledge and skills.

• it goes against academic integrity.

There are many types of plagiarism, but the most common ones are:

• Direct plagiarism: This type of plagiarism happens when a person copies and pastes entire sentences or paragraphs from the original author.  Even if some of the words are changed, it is still wrong.
• Mosaic plagiarism: Sometimes, to enrich ideas in essays and projects, direct quotes are used. These are sentences or phrases that have been copied, word-for-word, from the original author. Direct quotes must be placed inside quotation marks, and the sources must be cited in your references (French only). Forgetting to use quotation marks is mosaic plagiarism.
• Self-plagiarism: This happens when a person reuses work completed for one class and submits it in another.
• Accidental plagiarism: Citing the sources you use for a project or paper is essential, even when paraphrasing the author’s original work.  Accidental plagiarism occurs when sources of information are not recorded in the reference section.
• AI-assisted plagiarism: AI plagiarism means generating content with AI tools and submitting it as your own original work.  For instance, using AI to write your essay or do your math homework for you.

Some AI uses are considered plagiarism and some aren’t. Generally speaking, ethical use and transparency are the main principles of school policies.

Remember to always ask your teacher before using AI in your schoolwork in any way.

To give you an idea, here are some examples of what is considered plagiarism and what is considered acceptable use of AI.

Ever felt overloaded with school work and other responsibilities? Well, you're not alone! Many of your classmates may also feel pressured to manage so much at the same time. Tests, projects and other assignments often overlap. And, when things get tough, the pressure is high, and deadlines are just around the corner, some may resort to plagiarism in order to get things done quickly.
 
Here are some of the most frequent reasons why some students plagiarize:

• They don’t understand what plagiarism is: Some students may think that information on the internet is open for everyone to use however they want. They may not understand that, just like in books, magazines, and other print material, the words and turn of phrases belong to the original author.
• They have trouble managing their time: When a student feels overloaded with work, they may resort to plagiarism as a shortcut to complete assignments and tasks more quickly.
• They have trouble prioritizing: Knowing what to do first is not always obvious. Being able to separate the important from the less important is a skill that needs to be developed. A student who has trouble prioritizing tasks can become stressed, run out of time, and feel like their only recourse is to plagiarize. 
• They have a fear of failure: Some students lack confidence (French only) in their own writing abilities or fear that they may fail an assignment. In some cases, they may decide to plagiarize instead of handing in their own work.

• Planning: Time management is key, especially when faced with overlapping tests, assignments and project dates. So, plan your work ahead of time. Use your school agenda or a monthly calendar to record important dates and study sessions. Use different colours to prioritize tasks. Building these good habits will help you feel less stressed too!
• Develop your research skills: It’s important to understand that research papers and projects take time and that choosing the right sources for your ideas and facts can be challenging. So, before you start to write, browse the internet (French only), or look in a book, make sure that you familiarize yourself with the right steps when carrying out your research. This will maximize your time too! 
• Paraphrase: When completing an assignment, make sure that you don’t copy and paste from sites. Instead, take notes and write the information in your own words (paraphrase). Don’t forget to place direct quotes inside quotation marks to indicate that these are someone else’s words or ideas!
• Cite your sources: Make sure to keep track of the sources you use and record them properly in a reference list.
• Ask for help: If you’re not sure whether you’ve plagiarized something, ask your teacher for help. They are well-equipped to explain their expectations.