Avoiding Plagiarism-Emily Eyberg

In any writing situation, plagiarism should be avoided. Whether it be a academic setting or a journalist setting, one should place value on one's own work.
1.Plagiarism is unethical. Consider plagiarism like shoplifting. Maybe you're being extremely sly about it, almost to the exit, when a professor catches you in the act.Stealing someone else work is insulting to the author and to yourself.Its best to just not do it.
2.Plagiarism means a lost learning opportunity. Why would a professor assign a writing project with the intent for a student not to learn. Isn't the idea of going to school to get an education, to better oneself? To plagiarize is to waste a valuable educational experience.Take the time to write a 200 word essay, if not for your professor, or your grade,but simply for youself.
3. Plagiarism diminishes your credibility. Once you have been branded for plagiarizing,especially if it is a mark on your transcript, every college or university, sometimes even businesses will see that you have been accused and punished for plagiarism. It is simply not worth it to use someone else work.All of us are stressed, tired, busy, and on at times on that one last nerve. However, if we plagiarize it really isn't one more thing off our minds,in fact it is one more thing added to our thoughts.
4. Plagiarism may result in serious penalties. Depending on the leniency of your teacher or school, the first time you are caught it may be as simple as a slap on the wrist. However, once caught again, you run the risk of being failed for the assignment and class, also having a permanent black mark on your transcript. Other situations, a professor may fail you when caught the first time and immediately place a black mark on your transcript.
One A.M. on a Tuesday night, just finished working a double shift at a minimum wage position, classes all day, and attempting to finish a paper. You are faced with a choice; either stay up for a few more hours, when you would much rather sleep, or copy and change a few words on a paper a friend wrote last semester. By choosing to stay up and miss those hours of sleep,you're doing yourself a favor. If you were to choose to copy and change a few words, you are risking failing a class and carrying guilt.

Harris, Muriel, and Jennifer Kunka. "Research- Avoiding Plagiarism." Prentice Hall Reference Guide. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008. 379-80. Print.