PLAGIARISM AND THE INTERNET
Plagiarism and the Internet
Matthew Catchings
TJ Johnson
Michael Lieu
Patricia Porter
University of Phoenix
Plagiarism and the Internet
Plagiarism comes from the Latin word plagiare which means "to kidnap." It is the act of using material, in whole or in part, without proper citation. Compared to forgery, where the material itself is authentic or not, plagiarism is about copying ideas (Wickapedia Network, 2007). With the rise of the internet, where anonymity is both a blessing and a curse, plagiarism is much more apparent now.
Plagiarism comes in many forms. Using words, facts, and statistics without proper citation is plagiarism. To avoid it, proper citation is needed on any borrowed language or idea presented ("The Meaning and Prevention of Plagiarism"). Any form of media, whether it is a book or a website, has to be properly cited. Distinguishing between "common knowledge" and original work presents a challenge to the writer. Jones Andy, in The Meaning and Prevention of Plagiarism, states that "common knowledge implies that the audience and the author have agreed on certain facts." If determining whether the idea of "common knowledge" is difficult, citing the reference would be the best course of action.
How plagiarism affects people would depend on which side of the plagiarism they are on. Those on the plagiarizing side might feel smug. They think they have put something over on someone, or they have avoided a significant amount of work. For a while they might be able to get away with it. They will think that this is the way to get ahead quickly. Eventually it will catch up with them and they will have to suff ...