News

One of the most serious academic crimes is plagiarism. There have been many students who have written research projects and have quoted other peoples' work without giving proper credit to the author. This has led to students failing classes or being expelled from colleges and universities. This has also enabled a number of original authors to bring a lawsuit against those using their information without giving proper credit.

Plagiarizing other peoples' work is a lack of honesty. Leading people to believe that you wrote something that you didn’t, creates a false impression in the readers mind that you are more knowledgeable then you really are. A person who accustoms himself to this level of dishonesty, most probably will eventually become a thief.

Plagiarism causes a person to shortchange himself in his education. Cutting corners and not properly researching the material will ensure that the writer lacks clarity in the subject matter. Although the writer may have short term gains and pass the course, in the long run “ it will bite him” when he proves to be ignorant in the field that he works in and is unable to accomplish what is expected of him.

Doing proper research and producing original work helps boost a person's self confidence. It is very important to experience success and feel a sense of accomplishment to keep a high level of motivation for growth and development. Although it's much easier and quicker to plagiarize, working hard and putting in the effort is well worthwhile and has long lasting benefits.

So next time you have a paper to write or a project to complete spend some time considering the pros and cons of plagiarism. Like many things in life, it may appear on the surface that it is the smart choice, but definitely the loss outweighs the gains. If you want to be an honest person, and you want to get an education, and you want to build your self esteem, put in the effort and use some creativity.

Yakov Tropper
CalPac Student