Suppose you have ever worked on a research paper. In that case, you must know that besides maintaining the format and including relevant information, it is important that you make sure the content is plagiarism free. Plagiarism in the research paper is like the dust on a white object, making it completely non-re presentable.
But you absolutely cannot take that risk. To ensure better grades, you have to clean this dust, and here in this blog, I will tell you how to do so. But before you try eradicating plagiarism from your work, have a sound understanding of the concept of plagiarism.
A Brief Idea on Plagiarism
The word plagiarism, which is derived from the Latin word plagiarius, which means “kidnapper,” according to Merriam Webster, means “to steal or pass off as one’s own.” This definition can lead someone to believe plagiarism only happens when someone claims ownership of another person’s work.
There can be four types of plagiarism –
- Direct plagiarism is when someone steals another person’s words or ideas and passes them off as their own, that too without quotation or citation.
- Mosaic plagiarism, also called “patchwriting,” is the practice of taking statements out of context and adding a few extra words here and there.
- Giving credit to the incorrect author(s) or misquoting is considered accidental plagiarism.
- Reusing you are own previously published or submitted work, even just a portion of it, for a new project is known as self-plagiarism.
But avoiding any of these is not as difficult as you think. And it can be even easier if you follow the below-mentioned steps.
Ways to Avoid Plagiarism
1. Stay Organized
When you are hurried, you make way too many writing errors. Instead, make sure everything is neatly arranged in a spreadsheet, document, or folder from the minute you begin performing your research and gathering notes. This will make it easier for you to locate and properly credit your sources.
2. Evaluate Your Sources
Given that most research is now conducted online, it might be easy to fall into the trap of repeating erroneous or inaccurate information. For example, let’s assume you discovered this excellent theory online. How can you be sure that the team, lab, or individual who worked behind it was properly credited to the paper you’re reading? How do you know the sources they cited were reliable? Hence, evaluating the sources before referring to them for your paper is always better. You should always choose more reliable sources, such as well-known research journals, respected media, and established references. you can also get term paper help.
3. Use Quotations
Use quotation marks and cite the author and source if you want to quote someone verbatim.
For instance, Dr. A claims in his “The XYZ” essay that “It is good to be sarcastic.”
You may be sure to prevent plagiarism by utilizing direct quotations because they make it plain to readers that you are not trying to pass off someone else’s work as your own. That said, you should not simply crowd your writing with a barrage of quotes. Likewise, do not rely on verbatim quotations to fill space; instead, strike a balance.
4. Paraphrase Properly
You know what? Paraphrasing can be viewed as conveying to your audience in your own words the essence of someone else’s ideas or body of work. This could be a modest revision or merely a condensed overview.
The best technique to cite other people’s writing is through paraphrasing rather than verbatim copying and quotation marks. Additionally, it provides you more freedom regarding grammar and voice. However, paraphrasing is not the same as merely rewording something without giving credit, which is considered mosaic plagiarism. You must cite the source when paraphrasing, and when writing an academic paper, the source should always be listed on the reference page.
5. Cite the Sources
You must cite your sources each time you reference one of them, whether you are using a direct quote or paraphrasing. The citation format you employ will typically depend on the kind of writing you are producing. To ensure consistency, use the same format throughout your entire manuscript. If in doubt, consult your editor or professor.
The source will often be included as a footnote in the document. In the body of your text, in parenthesis, a brief form of attribution should appear when writing an academic research paper.
6. Use a Plagiarism Checker
Use a plagiarism detector on your text once you’re done writing or even while you go. These tools make it quite straightforward for you to identify any parts of your content that have been copied, even accidentally. From there, it is simple to delete the offending sentences or include the appropriate citations.
7. Proofread the Paper
Although it might seem obvious, this is a crucial step that is often overlooked. Always go back (often several times) and double-check your work for errors in spelling, grammar, and, of course, citations and any quotes you may have used. You need to take a break after finishing a writing assignment so that you may return to it with a new perspective. This will make it evident to you if you neglect to cite a source and confirm that the words are otherwise entirely original to you.
8. Get a Second POV
Never be afraid to consult your teacher regarding the validity of specific sources or the relevance of your citations when working on a project for class. It also helps to sit with a classmate and demonstrate your text and the primary source to them. Your citations and the language you write need to be absolutely accurate. You can’t take anything back once it’s out there. Take precautions so that you don’t have to be sorry later.
9. Quote Your Own Work
Self-plagiarism is something that frequently causes confusion for students. However, just because you wrote something doesn’t imply you can keep using it. You cannot simply reprint a paper you wrote for one class and turn it in for another assignment, even if it is only a portion of it. Of course, you can always ask your professor for permission to utilise something you wrote in the past. But the best course of action is to reference your prior work and build on your findings; this is frequently encouraged. Be careful to follow the guidelines for citation, paraphrasing, and quotations when making references to prior work.
Wrapping it up,
Submitting a plagiarism-free, unique copy won’t be a walk in the park. You have to devote a lot of time and energy to the same. But then you can’t take risks with your grades. That is not even the question. Hopefully, the points mentioned above will guide you in the process and make it less complicated.
