Ethics in an Academic Environment
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Skills for Professional Development
Professor Jane Tarzan
Aug 28, 2008
Why Students Plagiarize
Plagiarism involves the presentation of work thought to be original but is stolen from another without due credit. Plagiarism is an act that borrows from another’s research discoveries and findings resulting in a violation of ethics. Without proper acknowledgement, a student may be guilty of plagiarism or outright cheating even if unintentional. Students therefore, must be diligent in ensuring their work is not a result of plagiarizing.
Many reasons exist as to why some students will resort to turning in work that was created by others. The pressure to excel and graduate from a college or university is high. Many students feel overwhelmed by a full academic schedule and face pressure within as well as from family to complete their degree. In today’s job market, a college degree seems to be a minimum requirement to gain even simple entry level positions.
For some college students, shortcuts become a way of life. In an effort to do as little work as possible, a lazy student will deliberately copy printed material and use it as original. A student who is not serious about earning his or her education is likely to use this method while assuming the risk of getting caught. The lesson of proper research and critical thinking and writing will never be learned since honesty is not a high priority for students wishing to take as little time on a project as possible.
Another reason a student may choose to plagiarize is the lack of time management and planning skills. When pressed for time with an assig ...