Plagiarism and the Internet :: Cheating Education School Essays

Plagiarism and the Internet To plagiarize, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, means â€Å"to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own† or to â€Å"use (another’s production) without crediting the source (Merriam-Webster OnLine).† To plagiarize is a major offense, and many schools and workplaces take it very seriously, or so they claim. For example, at the College of New Jersey, a strict Academic Integrity Policy promises severe punishment to those caught plagiarizing, more severe for intentional violations than unintentional (â€Å"Academic Integrity†). But punishment cannot be given if the person plagiarizing cannot be caught, and throughout the years, many new and easier ways to plagiarize have come about. The invention of the Internet gave students an easier way to copy another’s work and use it as their own. Along with this easier way to plagiarize, however, have come new ways to detect plagiarism. But in spite of all this, plagiarism continues to occur. On many college campuses and in many workplaces, a student or employee must follow an academic integrity policy or an honor code. When one plagiarizes, he goes in direct violation of these policies, doing something that is not only unethical, but also illegal. Copyright laws protect many major pieces of literature and many ideas, making those illegal to copy, but it is also immoral to copy the works of un-copyrighted authors. There can be severe consequences for a plagiarizer if he is caught, and if his professor or employer is willing to follow through with the consequences. People plagiarize, despite the immorality of it and the possible consequences, because it is easier than coming up with their own ideas. Also, when following a strict deadline, plagiarizing can be a fast way to finish a paper or a project. With new technology, plagiarizing has become even easier than it was in the past. With the birth of the World Wide Web came new ways to plagiarize. With a few clicks of the mouse, entire passages can be taken from a web page and placed into a student’s paper in Microsoft Word. With a few minor word changes and alterations, a student might think that he is safe, and that no one will be able to catch his plagiarism.