On the subject of plagiarism

Feb 21, 2013 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
On the subject of plagiarism. It seems to me that plagiarism is more than “unacknowledged borrowing” of the ideas and writings of others: it is stealing those ideas and writings.
I think it may be widely acknowledged that ‘internet-based material is by definition public property’, but it seems mean to try to take the credit for someone else’s hard work, probably involving hours of research.
Years ago, on a course of study with a distance learning institution, we students were warned in writing that plagiarism would be treated as a serious offence and dealt with accordingly. Students must always acknowledge sources.
As I recall, plagiarism was defined as ‘quoting more than six consecutive words’ from other authors’ published work without attributing the sources. Students took this warning very seriously and
there was never a problem.
Geralda Dennison