Innocently, it begins as early as preschool.

Students find themselves plagiarizing at a very young age. Many do not even comprehend the logistics involved. Some question, “What is the difference between cheating and plagiarizing?” Many continue to follow a particular pattern of writing until some instructor or professor calls it to their attention. Yet, it is very important to learn at least by the middle-school years how to effectively write in one’s own words.

During the high-school years, teachers of various disciplines stress to students the significance of literacy and learning the mechanics for writing legibly and correctly. They also stress to their students that college is not a “walk in the park” and students must be attentive, focused and determined to do well. Parents “piggy back” this teaching and expound on the fact that their hard work and money are spent on an education that they surely hope pays off.

For students who do not take the time to earnestly study and learn, the consequences can be detrimental in the long run. Simply memorizing information or subjecting one’s self to the act of plagiarizing information to complete a task or assignment is not beneficial to the student’s overall learning. 

Plagiarism, if deliberate, is a form of cheating. It is referred to as the act of copying the work of others and then submitting or publishing it as if it were your own.

Many instructors realize that there is a tendency for students to accidentally plagiarize. Therefore, it is imperative that students are taught the proper measures for paraphrasing. This guidance allows students the opportunity to understand that they must present their own rendition of essential information and ideas. When accompanied by accurate documentation — following predetermined APA, MLA or other established guidelines — they can borrow from a source. When paraphrasing, it is best to re-read the original passage until you understand its full meaning, write a draft of your understanding, and then check to make certain the new expression does accurately match the meaning of the original version.

The best way for instructors to prevent academic dishonesty from occurring is by informing students of academic standards in advance and explaining how cheating can harm students academically. If cheating does occur, students should be responded to swiftly, and of course disciplinary measures should be taken. 

It is also wise to make sure that students know the criteria for which their performances are evaluated, they are given an ample supply of resources to meet their educational needs, and that they feel at liberty to ask questions freely when they are not sure of a procedure or material content.

For students to feel successful in any class, they must believe their instructor genuinely cares about their progress, has clearly stated policies and expectations, and is knowledgeable of the course materials and content.

Dr. Sonya Rogers is a certified counselor who lives in Daphne.

Her column regularly appears in The Bulletin.