Plagiarism destroys many academic careers. When you read literature about common mistakes to avoid, in reference to plagiarism, the stress begins. It virtually accuses every scholastic writer of some form of plagiarism. Educating yourself about this academic crime can prevent you from falling into this trap. With the emergence of the Internet, the ability to borrow work beyond your own became more accessible. Switch a few words here, thesaurus another phrase there and you now have a perfect paper. Instructors usually warn students on the first day of class about their views toward plagiarism and their refusal to tolerate it. Prevention is a far better method than detection when screening plagiarism.

Since schools warn students about the increased cases of plagiarism, they should introduce an elective course on the topic. With a possibility of expulsion from school for plagiarism, you should be entitled to learn more about the ways to prevent its occurrence. To avoid plagiarism can be a heavy task at hand. When you think of plagiarism, a comparison of it links to the story about "David & Goliath." Goliath resembles the force of plagiarism and David represents the student that tries to defeat it. Depending on grade level, schools should teach a course on plagiarism. If you teach children early on, they will fear the topic. The goal is like a process of fear factor. When someone fears something, they will do everything in their power to avoid it. In college, a course on plagiarism will supply practical skills on what to avoid and ways to prevent producing work that contains it.

Seminars on plagiarism would help to alleviate the problem. Guest speakers can include students that were exiled for plagiarism, professors and authors. If you show someone what they can lose, more than likely, they will prevent from duplicating that action. Action speaks more volumes than words when offering solutions to plagiarism. In grade school, dental representatives visit classrooms to show children what can happen if they don't brush their teeth. These professionals offer students preventative methods on how to avoid cavities, bad breath and gum disease. A seminar would have the same impact. Plagiarism can affect your financial stability, career advancement and reputation.

Plagiarism cases have increased over the years. Schools only tell, but don't show the alternative methods to avoid plagiarism. When parents tell children to behave, they don't listen. A process of learning occurs before actual listening absorbs into the mind. Life lessons help people learn from their mistakes. What if you can learn from another individual? Prisons use this method to prevent troubled teenagers from living a life of crime. Schools should hand out literature, show films and invite guest speakers to the class. Also, when papers are due at the end of a course, the instructor should consider assigning due dates to each part of the writing process. Students tend to procrastinate when it comes to completing assignments. The likelihood of plagiarism becomes more imminent when a students waits until the last week or night to complete a paper. All these tactics could be positive solutions to prevent plagiarism.

Holding courses, seminars and scheduling early due dates on assignments can prevent plagiarism. No instructors wants to ruin a student's academic career. A student doesn't want to taint their future. One plagiarized paper can jeopardize your life. Just think about all the hard work that you put in and how easily it can be taken away. Follow these principles and you shall be on your way to an academic future free of plagiarism.

Learn more about this author, Jason Goodlin.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Plagiarism in the classroom: Prevention rather than detection?
We want to hear your view. Write now!