Stealing another’s work is a deed done by someone who does not have their own originality. Students turn to copying, cheating, and plagiarising because finishing homework is a difficult task and small on their list of priorities; thus, plagiarism is an effortless task to complete. Any type of information is easily accessible nowadays with the internet. With this, plagiarizing is easier for students of all ages to be involved in. “A phenomenal 87 percent of college students in one survey say they cheated on written work, and one-quarter admit they have plagiarized papers” (Innerst). Through teachers utilizing online detection systems and emphasizing work completed in class, students are deterred from using various forms of plagiarism and restore academic integrity.
Students are concerned about completing work on time, disregarding credit given to the author. Countless students participate in demanding activities and are employed. Such activities begin subtracting more and more time the student could be using to study. Counterfeiting somebody else’s work is a convenient strategy to obtain the answers needed in a timely manner. “…almost 80 percent of students take at least a part-time job during the school year” (Fang). A majority of students do not have time to complete homework with confidence; therefore, they search for alternative ways to finish their homework. Participating in the use of plagiarism puts the student’s academic integrity into question. Procrastination is another factor in students plagiarizing. Procrastination is a tactic used by most students in hopes of having time to accomplish their assignments later. “It’s not because they don’t know the material—it’s because they procrastinate too long to get the work done on their own” (Lynch). Unfortunately, procrastinators quickly discover they do not have the time they wished for and in return, steal other’s ideas. Procrastination can also lead to cheating on an exam because of wasted time. Succeeding on an exam requires time management and studying. All students degrade their possibility of maintaining academic honesty when cheating. Juveniles who do display academic honesty are less likely to procrastinate and have a lesser chance of plagiarizing. Although there are multitudes of reasons for plagiarism, there are even more strategies to contain its use.
Using online plagiarism detection systems is an effortless practice to restore a student’s academic integrity. “Thirty of the 31 students questioned identified fear of being caught as a primary reason to avoid plagiarism” (Power). Teachers who take time to use a detection system deter students from using plagiarism. Students know the use of plagiarism is a heinous crime and exposing them is a severe embarrassment. This embarrassment will prevent all future plagiarism in its various forms and restore the student’s academic integrity. An extremely simple tactic to discourage cheating and copying is to limit the work completed outside of class. Students will not only gain a better understanding of the class, but they will also strengthen their academic honesty.
Not everyone has the character or academic integrity and refrain from plagiarising. This makes banishing plagiarism a massive feat. The student must have the motivation to refrain from stealing the work of others. By using a plagiarism detection system and emphasizing assignments worked on in class, educators can begin to diminish the problem of plagiarism in its various forms.
This essay was donated by a student on 20.09.2016 in exchange for a free plagiarism scan.
