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Plagiarism happens for a number of reasons—one is because some students decide consciously to gain credit for the work of others. However, most incidents of plagiarism are the product not of deliberate cheating, but of underdeveloped academic skills.
Plagiarism in these cases is a consequence of students' difficulties with the cluster of skills and states of mind needed to be successful in a tertiary learning environment. If you develop these skills your chances of being accused of plagiarism will be greatly reduced.
Problem |
Solution |
| Intellectual insecurity: the 'use your own words' paradox | Find your own voice |
| Poor time management | Learn to use your time effectively |
| Lack of a clear argument: not answering the question | Develop a clear argument |
| Lack of critical/ analytical skills | Asking questions and developing answers |
| Inadequate research | Read and research more widely |
| Poor note-taking | Develop note-taking systems |
| Poor referencing skills | Learn how to acknowledge your sources |
| Underdeveloped writing skills | Work to improve your writing |
| Cheating | Don't do it! |