Acknowledging the work of others

Topic: Reviewing the history of plagiarism

Do you know when and why plagiarism became a shameful thing?

This topic is designed to help you improve:

your understanding of originality and plagiarism as social and cultural constructs
your skill in working with your students and your colleagues to keep originality and plagiarism in perspective

What do you think? In this topic, you can read an account of the emergence of interest in plagiarism in the Western European tradition.

What do you think: To what extent is the shame of plagiarism based on values other than economic values?

Further reading on this topic:

East, J. (2005). Proper acknowledgment? Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 2 (3a), 1-11. Retrieved June 1, 2006 from http://jutlp.uow.edu.au/2005_v02_i03a/pdf/east_005.pdf

“This paper reviews the term 'proper acknowledgment' in the academic context and argues that proper acknowledgement can be a matter of context and perception. In this paper forms of plagiarism are reviewed, reasons for student plagiarism are considered and different contexts for acknowledgement and how these fit in with concepts of attribution and originality are discussed.”(p.1)

Johnson, A., & Clerehan, R. (2005). A rheme of one's own: How 'original' do we expect students to be? Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 2 (3a), 37-47. Retrieved June 1, 2006 from http://jutlp.uow.edu.au/2005_v02_i03a/pdf/johnson_005.pdf*

“…we argue that plagiarism remains, fundamentally, a philosophical and pedagogical issue for universities, related to understanding the meaning of originality and using sources for different disciplines. Toward this goal we place the notion of originality in its historical and disciplinary contexts, and question the view that it is a natural and universal quality of good writing. The practice of assessing undergraduate students on their ability to produce 'original' texts depends on a notion of originality that is unstable and uncertain. We examine a sample of statements about originality given to students and explore the nature of the demands placed on student writers in the internationalised university.” (p.37)

Overview | Citing your sources | Recognising the influence of your colleagues
Conveying others' ideas in your own words | Reviewing the history of plagiarism