Plagiarism: not just a generational disconnect

A good article from the New York Times on the issue of plagiarism. Personally, I think the author focuses a bit too much on the generational differences that may account for what seems to be an observed increase in the number of plagiarism cases. However, take a look at the comments, and you will see other examples and anecdotes of plagiarism arising in adult professional work settings. The recent accusations of plagiarism against former CO congressman Scott McInnis is a good example.

So why is this important? Well, as the NYT article notes, the proliferation of the internet and digital media has brought us in to an era where laws, ethics, and cultural values pertaining to the use and distribution of copyrighted materials has become very murky. But as we’ve stated before on this blog, IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE. We’ve also tried to illustrate that plagiarism can have real academic and professional consequences, many of which can be avoided by simple taking a cautious approach and citing every sources you use. Don’t let the prospect of a few minutes extra work put you off, cite your sources, and if you are unsure how, contact the library’s reference desk for help.

P.B.

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