Plagiarism and the Internet :: Cheating Education Essays

Plagiarism and the Internet The consequences of plagiarism are both legal and academic. Plagiarism has been a concern in America since the founding fathers wrote the Constitution empowering the Legislative branch to protect intellectual and creative works. Today plagiarism can be easily accomplished due to the World Wide Web. If people violate copyright laws, they are subject to fines and imprisonment. When people choose to plagiarize, they are restricting their level of academic learning. The people who have done the research and posted it on the web will not receive the credit that they deserve. To plagiarize is â€Å"to take ideas or writings from another and pass them off as one’s own† (Webster’s New World Dictionary). It is extremely easy to access information on the World Wide Web. The proliferation of computers and printers in libraries, schools, and homes has enabled voluminous information to be accessible to all. This access has tempted some people to use othersâ⠂¬â„¢ writings as their own. Many students today find it easy to plagiarize in order to fill up pages, and hand a paper in on time. â€Å"A national survey published in Education Week found that 54% of students admitted to plagiarizing from the Internet† (â€Å"Plagiarism.org†). While this may seem like a good idea to some, the grade is not worth the consequences. When students plagiarize, they no longer read or sort the material; they are simply printing out someone else’s work. Those students are basically going through the motions of learning. Another danger of plagiarizing is that you may be using false information from the Web. Students who thoroughly research and sort the information are helping themselves. Evaluating the information and drawing their own conclusions improves the student academically and intellectually. Persons are usually penalized for plagiarism in their academic setting. In most universities a person will receive an F for the class without refund. Sometimes the person may face monetary fines and will be banned from extracurricular activities (â€Å"Plagiarism Q&A†). The College of New Jersey has little tolerance for those who plagiarize. If a student is caught plagiarizing, the faculty member will first decide whether or not the student’s violations were intentional.