PLAGIARISM
Introduction.
Definition: Plagiarism can be defined as close imitation of another author’s work and presenting it as your own original work. In most cases this work may be publication of another person’s story as yours.
Plagiarism can also manifest itself in the presentation of another person’s ideas as one’s own regardless of the specific words used to express that idea.
Plagiarism in today’s world is considered immoral and originality as an ideal. Plagiarism of someone else’s work is criticized on the moral grounds even though it is not considered a crime unless one copies a copyrighted material.
Types of Plagiarism.
a. Self-plagiarism.
This is the re-use of considerable sections of one’s own work without citing the original work. This act not only raises ethical issues but can also be illegal if copyright of the prior work had been transferred to another entity.
However, identifying self plagiarism is usually difficult because limited re-use of material is both legally accepted and ethically accepted.
How to avoid self plagiarism
• Peer reviewing, this is a process of self regulation by evaluation involving qualified individuals within the profession of writing. This limits an author from using too much information from his previous works.
b. Plagiarism on the internet.
Plagiarism on the internet occurs when one copies from an internet website and pastes it on his own website to imply his/her own work.
How can internet plagiarism be prevented?
• The easiest approach to limit copying or internet plagiarism is disabling right clicking and placing warning banners regarding the copy rights on the web page.
c. Academic Plagiarism (Academic Dishonesty).
Plagiarism in academics manifests itself when an author uses in his work a significant section of another author’s work without citing the original work. Plagiarism in academics by researchers, professors or researchers is considered as academic dishonesty or academic fraud and attracts disciplinary measures ranging from sanctions to expulsion.
How to avoid plagiarism in academics
• Allowing enough time to do a paper, one of the main reasons that makes students to copy is shortage of time thus to avoid plagiarism one needs to create enough time to do his/her research.
• Having a clear understanding of the consequences, academic plagiarism comes with severe consequences which the students or researchers tend to overlook. If this consequences are clearly understood by a student before enrolling into any academic courses then plagiarism can be avoided.

d. Plagiarism in journalism.
In journalism plagiarism manifests when a reporter fails to honestly acknowledge his/her sources which in turn undermines the credibility of a newspaper or television news show. It is considered a breach of journalistic ethics and attracts disciplinary measures ranging from suspension to termination of employment.
How to avoid plagiarism in journalism
• Do own reporting, to avoid plagiarism one needs to gather his own information and report it. This will avoid the temptation of using information of another journalist’s story.
• Give credit to others, if one uses information from another journalist’s story he/she must attribute that information to the other journalist or the media hose he works for.
• Cross checking one’s copy, after doing a story it is advisable to read it through a number of times just to make sure you have not used information that is not yours.
Conclusion
Plagiarism not only hurts others but it also hurts one self. The major consequence of plagiarism is that it hurts the people who engage in it. Writing a good research involves skills that are acquired through a consistent practice of honest writing and giving credit to others for their ideas. Students who plagiarize can never learn this skills and college and beyond may always prove difficult for them.