Confidence & Planning Key to Avoiding Plagiarism
Steer Clear of Temptation With Solid Preparation and Self-Assurance
Sep 7, 2009
There are students who plan to plagiarize as soon as a writing assignment is given to them; if this were not true, books like Bob Corbett's The Cheater's Handbook: The Naughty Student's Bible would likely not exist. But there are likely just as many students who have the best of intentions when planning to write a paper and wind up plagiarizing later on. Here are some tips to help students avoid plagiarism.
Avoid Plagiarism by Planning
Often, a student will put off writing that term paper and then, at the last minute and in a desperate panic, will plagiarize by either copying different sources into his paper or even by borrowing a friend's paper or buying one off the Internet. Good planning can help this kind of student from giving in to panic. The key is establishing a timeline from the day the paper was assigned to the due date and setting deadlines for each of the following activities:
- Decide on a topic. Try to make sure it's not so broad that the paper would be too long nor so narrow that little need be written on the subject.
- Write an outline (even if it's fairly vague) of the different headings (or subtopics) the paper will cover.
- Conduct research, finding sources that will either help explain the topic or offer credibility for the author's opinion.
- Set aside enough time to work on each outline/heading. For example, if the paper is broken down into six different headings and the student has three weeks to work on this part of the paper, the student should probably spend three days at a time writing the body information for each section.
- Plan to spend at least one or two days revising and editing, as well as putting together the bibliography, introduction, and conclusion.
This sort of planning should help students avoid plagiarism caused by last-minute panic.
Self-Confidence in One's Writing
Sometimes a student feels she must plagiarize because she lacks her abilities in her own writing. What she needs, then, is to develop confidence in her written voice. The following techniques may help:
- Enlist the aid of a tutor. Tutors on college campuses, for example, are paid to assist students who need help with their classes. That help can entail anything from giving suggestions on how to improve a paper to helping edit one's essay.
- Ask a friend for help. Students who don't have access to a tutor may be able to find a friend to go over his paper. For example, a student who is good at math can help a fellow student who agrees to proofread his paper.
- Practice writing. Sometimes students lack confidence in their writing simply because they don't write very much. Techniques such as freewriting and journaling can help the hesitant student.
- Talk with the teacher. Many instructors are willing to spend time with students, especially if it helps the student feel like she has a better idea of what the instructor expects. Some instructors will even agree to read sections of the student's paper before it is due to give feedback.
Most students begin to develop confidence in their writing as they grow used to their written "voice." Practice really is key in finding this comfort level.
The Punishment for Plagiarism is Not Worth It
Often, students don't think about the consequences of getting caught plagiarizing, but the repercussions can be drastic. Some teachers and schools give an automatic F for the assignment, but some schools will even suspend or expel a student. Plagiarism really isn't worth getting a poor grade or being kicked out of school. Planning and self-confidence will likely help a student think twice.
Related article:
Getting Started on That Troublesome Essay: Techniques to Help Writers Begin Composing Their Papers
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