Plagiarism: What should i do?

Question

Ok let me explain. I am not making excuses but i have been unwell recenlty and have not been able to study properly. Anyway i am supposed to submit an essay today for my degree programme. I have not had time to really work on it but i have done something. However if i am being honnest, the whole essay is made of @copy paste@ articles i have found on the net. Although i would definitely give the proper references. Not a single sentence is actually from me.

I am aware of the seriouness of it and plagiarism might be be expulsed from the degree programme. So i am considering not handing anything at all. Is it wise?

What would you do in my case? Please help! I could ask for an extension but i guess i's too late to ask now.

Thank you for your advice. I knew i shouldnt hand it in but i needed reassurance.

I have been very dumb i admit. I stayed up all night doing this **** and only now i am freaking out. I could rephrase the all essay but would take me too long, English not being my first language anyway.

I left a message on my tutor's answering machine and i will be honest and explain the situation (not mentioning the essay i @wrote@).

Besides, going throught it all now, it s so obvious it's not my work as some artciles are written in American English and some not!

In reply to the professor, yes i will try to get an extension but the tricky thing is my @illness@ is psychological. I suffer from panic attacks and agoraphobia. Even going to the librairy is a big deal for me. Sometimes i can t go to Uni beause i can't face the people. And since i study Psychology it s rather embrassing and i havent spoken to anyone about it.

But i guess i will have to now.

Thank you all for your advice. I am glad i posted on here because it gave me the courage to 'come clean' to the head of school. (the one dealing with extension and stuff). I also mentioned my concern about sitting the exams, It has been bugging me for a while, so he will be able to advice me whether i should let someone know about my condition before i take the exam. I should have done that weeks ago, Maybe they would have put me in a seperate room or something. Now,I hope they are not gonna barre me from sitting the exams all together!

But to give u an idea of about bad it is is, i will have to go to Uni by taxi as i cant face getting on a bus, never mind the tube.

Answer 1

No - don't hand it in as it is - tutors are not stupid and they recognise articles and what is in them.

If you have to, reference EVERYTHING mentioned so you cannot be done for plagiarism. This isn't advisable though.

You have all the information there. How long has the essay to be? Because it is already there and you have formed your structure (even by using other words), it shouldn't take you long to just write it! Does it matter if it is a day late? At my university, we just get a grade deducted for every day it is late until 5 days when it is an automatic fail. We can also ask for an extention up to the day of the essay (though 48 hours before at least is recommended).

I have suffered badly with depression in the past and used to write the essay on the due date, with no preparation (less than what you have) and hand it in a day or two late. I also got general 2:2 marks for them. I wouldn't normally advise doing this, but I know how much not handing in coursework can affect your grade.

I would speak to you tutor asap and if no luck, just blast the essay with what you have and write it in your own words. Seriously it can be done - do an all nighter if possible. DON'T hand in a plagiarised essay - you don't want to be kicked off your course for a silly mistake. I know of people this has happened to and they're kicking themselves now. Please trust me on this one.

Answer 2

Interesting question. I have often found myself in the same situation. Plagiarism, like any other crime can pay if you do it properly and/ or are lucky etc... I have plagiarised on many occasions and got away with it, like many people I know (on one occasion I almost got caught but I talked my way out of it). Most people do it. However, only a fool would copy entire articles etc... because you will get caught; all they need to do is type a sentence of your essay into a search engine and find the unreferenced articles if you copy from the internet.

Overall, I would not recommend plagiarising unless it is your only solution, it is best to take pride in your work and do it yourself whenever possible. Do your own work and possibly plagiarise a little, in a way or from a source that cannot be identified. Even when I copied material, I did not get good grades. My best work was done when I planned it properly, researched it and put effort into it without stealing other work. Also in your case, you are ill, so ask for an extension and write the essay, this way you may not lose marks for submitting it late.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Please don't hand it in. They will find out and you will have far more to worry about. If the tutor is OK, have a word with him - make an appointment NOW. If he is a 'get over it' type then go to student services first.

Did you go to the doctors? If so, get a doctor's note. If not, just go and have a serious talk to them. The department's secretary is often a good place to start. Don't worry about talking about mental illness - they've seen and heard it all before - and you won't be the only one on the course who has these problems.

If they know that you have problems, they can cut a bit of slack - and they could well be very understanding.

You shouldn't need too much of an extension. After all, you have got what you want to say. take it a paragraph at a time and put it in your own words. You can use some of it as quotes etc.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Isn't that how everybody writes essays? hehe

Open up a word document and type the essay again. Just change as many of the words as you can- (get a dictionary to help) but keep the meaning similar.

Definitely hand something in. Also, if the some of the articles are obscure-don't reference them. Try and use a good range of references though(text books, articles, quotes etc- you can find them on the Internet usually)- if you have time get a couple of books on the topic- use a couple of quotes from them- for variety.

Also try and get a days extension- explain you have been unwell and hand it in tomorrow if poss.

Just keep writing till you get to the word count. You will do it and all will be fine. Handing something in is better than nothing.

Keep reiterating the question in the answer. For example, if it asked 'Are bananas good for curing colds'?

I would write; bananas are beneficial in curing ailments
bananas help with
bananas can be viewed as a good source of etc

It shows you understand the question and bulks out the essay and is in your own words etc.

Answer 5

First , I would seek to get an extension on the essay. If that is not possible you must decide as to the lesser of two evils ,namely , do I want to fail an essay or do I desire to risk possible expulsion which remains permanently on your record or a grade that can be made up ? Who knows your tutor can try to get you an extension out of empathy for your cause but if you plagiarize not only are you cheating but you also put the tutor in an unenviable position since it is the tutor's decision to judge whether the paper is plagiarized or not and hiding the fact implicates the tutor as well which will hurt both of you irrepairably at the school.

Answer 6

Thanks for asking.

Know this: Plagiarism is the worst of your options. It would be better to fail ten classes than to get caught for plagiarism. Plagiarism will go on your record and seriously hurt your chances of getting any kind of degree, if it doesn't get you outright kicked out.

Attempt to ask for an extension anyway. Explain your situation of being unwell. Perhaps your instructor will have pity. If not, then at least you can retake the class or consider your options.

Remember also that paraphrasing is still plagiarism according to academic policy, contrary to what some people are saying. You have to invent an original argument and state it in your own words for it to be accepted as original. Others' words are only to be used sparingly, as evidence, and properly cited when they are used.

May God bless you.

Answer 7

If you explain that you have been ill I can't see why you shouldn't get an extension even at this late stage. This worst thing you can do is not bother to ask! Plagiarism is serious and could cost you your degree (assuming that you have done some original work!), and if you have blatantly cut&pasted there's a good chance you'll be found out.

Get an extension ASAP then get your finger out and get it done properly - you'll feel good afterwards.

Answer 8

Definatley do not hand in a plagerised copy, that is like the worst offence for an academic to do!! If you do they may expell you or fail you anyways. Can't you get a docotors certificate to say that you were sick and then explain to your lecturer your situation- that's what i would try to do.

with the essay can't you like add some of your own thoughts on what you've found and what you think the research suggests or rephrase some stuff.

DON'T PLAGERISE!!! the consequnces will not be good!

Answer 9

Being a proffessor at the University of De Monteford in Britain, I would advise the use of begging. Ask for a few days' extension and work your balls off to get as much of it done as possible.
Being ill is a good excuse if followed by a doctor's note or conformation of the illness.
Good luck.

Answer 10

hi, i think of that plagiarism isn't solid. I even have used expenses and mentioned that they don't seem to be mine and given the credit to the folk whom have arise with it. the line is crossed once you utilize each and every singe little element, regardless of in case you adjust some words right here and there to make it seem distinctive it remains not solid. in college we ought to sign an settlement sheet for all assignments, that announces that we've arise with this ourselves and if we are caught copying different peoples works (playgiarism) the we get no marks merely a super fat 0. i think of that is trouble-free because of the fact then it is your fault for not having your artwork. Having a orignal which you have arise including your self is a huge thought. Dont circulate taking some1 elses artwork and allways attempt to make each and every little thing your guy or woman! wish that helped Love Tania (;