I got into trouble because I wrote my project word for word from the internet - Information on 'plagiarism' for kids

You were given a project to do and now you have waited until the last minute. You decide just to 'copy and paste' a piece from the internet and add a few pictures.  

'Easy peasy' and you are done....

Unfortunately your teacher found out what you did and you are now in trouble. She used a big word called 'plagiarism' and how it is wrong.  Lets get more information on this.

image source

Plagiarism is when you use someone else's words or ideas and pass them off as your own. It's not allowed in school, college, or beyond, so it's a good idea to learn the proper way to use resources, such as websites, books, and magazines. 

I have copied the above piece, but if I did not show I took it directly from the internet it will be considered as cheating.  You cannot use other peoples' word and use it as your own.  It is like when you copy your friend's test, that is cheating.  

Plagiarism is also cheating, because you are stealing someone else's words.

It is fine to do research on the internet and then rewrite the information in your own words, but if you take any information or pictures directly the way it is and use it,  you have to give credit to the person who wrote it originally or took the picture or made the meme.

A lot of people do not see the problem with using other people's thoughts, words and ideas, but if you think about it, it is the same as you taking something that does not belong to you, in other words stealing it.

It is very interesting where the word 'plagiarism' comes from and that it actually means 'kidnapped'.  It is like 'kidnapping the words of others.'

It is derived from the Latin plagiarius—literally, a kidnapper who ensnares children or slaves in a plaga (net). The Roman poet Martial (40-102 AD), fiercely protective of his literary creations, was the first to apply the word plagiarius to someone who stole his words with false claims of authorship. 

It is possible that we can sometimes commit plagiarism without even knowing it.  You think you use your own words, but if you go back to the piece you are using, you see that you have written a few words in the same order.  It is not your intend to plagiarize, but it does happen, so the more you are aware of it, the more you will look out for it.

If you get an assignment from a teacher to do a report or project, make sure you list your sources where you get your information.  That way it is easy for the teacher to see that you did not just 'copy and paste', but actually did put in some effort and also gave credit where credit is due.

Plagiarism is seen as a 'big no no', and besides from getting no marks for your project, some colleges see it as a very big and bad offence, so they may even suspend you and once you are known as a 'plagiarist', people are going to find it difficult to believe that your next project is your own words and work.

Though plagiarism can be accidental, it's sometimes done on purpose and that's just being lazy. By copying whole paragraphs from different places, a kid doesn't have to spend the time thinking about the subject, gathering his or her own thoughts about it, and then putting it into original words. Cut, paste, and you're done. 

In other words, you are just being lazy.  You find it much easier to steal and cheat than to use your wonderful brain and think for yourself.

You have the internet at your finger tips, you can buy magazines or take out books from the library.  These are all sources that you can use to gather information and you do not need to be scared to use it.  We do not know everything and we need to learn from others, the most important thing is just not to steal their words and thoughts, but to use it as a guideline to form your own.

Do not be a 'cheater' - do your bit and give credit where due if you use someone else's work.

You can also get more information here.

Learn more about the different types of plagiarism here.

Team South Africa banner designed by @bearone