Skip to main content

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

 Ethical Use of Sources: Understanding Plagiarism, Paraphrasing, and Academic Integrity (MLA Perspective)

Academic writing is not only about presenting ideas clearly but also about using sources ethically and responsibly. The Modern Language Association (MLA) provides clear guidelines to help students avoid plagiarism and maintain academic honesty.

This blog discusses three common ethical dilemmas faced by students and explains how they should be treated under MLA guidelines.

1. Paraphrasing Without Citation: Is It Acceptable?

Situation

A student rewrites a scholarly paragraph by changing sentence structure and vocabulary but keeps the same ideas and order of arguments. They do not give a citation because they believe they are “not copying.”

MLA Perspective

According to MLA guidelines, this is still plagiarism. Even when wording is changed, the ideas and intellectual framework belong to the original author. Paraphrasing does not make the idea your own.

Does Paraphrasing Require Citation?

Yes. All paraphrased material must be cited. MLA requires citation whenever:

An idea is borrowed

An argument or interpretation is taken from a source

The sequence of reasoning reflects another author’s work

What Would I Do and Why?

I would treat this as unintentional plagiarism and advise the student to:

Add an in-text citation

Include the source in the Works Cited list

This response is fair because it educates the student while reinforcing academic integrity.

2. Similar Essays After Group Study: Plagiarism or Collaboration?

Situation

Two classmates study together, exchange notes, and discuss an essay. Their final submissions are different in wording but identical in structure, examples, and argumentative flow.

Ethical Analysis

This case falls between collaboration and plagiarism.

Acceptable collaboration: discussing ideas, themes, and general approaches

Unethical practice: producing essays with the same structure, examples, and argument path

Even if wording differs, shared structure and reasoning indicate over-collaboration.

Is This Plagiarism?

It may be considered collusion, a form of academic misconduct where individual work is expected but jointly produced.

How Should Boundaries Operate?

Ethical boundaries should include:

Independent outlining and structuring

Unique examples and interpretations

Clear instructor guidelines on collaboration

Students should collaborate before writing, not during composition.

3. Reusing One’s Own Previous Work Without Citation

Situation

A student uses two pages from an essay submitted in a previous semester and includes it in a new assignment without citing themselves.

Does MLA Treat This as Plagiarism?

Yes. This is called self-plagiarism.

Although the student is the original author, submitting the same work again misrepresents originality and violates academic honesty policies.

What Is This Type of Plagiarism Called?

Self-plagiarism

Text recycling

What Would an Ethical Approach Look Like?

An ethical approach would involve:

Informing the instructor

Citing the previous work properly

Revising and expanding the old material instead of copying it verbatim

This ensures transparency and respects the purpose of new academic evaluation.

Conclusion

Academic integrity is foundational to scholarship. MLA guidelines emphasize that:

Ideas must always be credited

Paraphrasing still requires citation

Collaboration has clear ethical limits

Reusing one’s own work without disclosure is unethical

Understanding these principles helps students develop honesty, credibility, and confidence as academic writers. Ethical writing is not just about avoiding punishment—it is about respecting knowledge itself.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"One-Eyed" by Meena Kandasamy

Group Assignment on "One-Eyed" by Meena Kandasamy Given by: Prakruti Ma’am Group Members: Leader: Nirali Vaghela Members: Nikita Vala, Kumkum Hirani, Khushi Makwana, Krishna Baraiya , Tanvi Mehra 1.Which poem and questions were discussed by the group? Our group discussed the poem “One-Eyed” by Meena Kandasamy, which powerfully portrays caste-based discrimination in Indian society through the experience of a young girl named Dhanam. We discussed the following two questions as part of our assigned task: Long Answer: What kind of treatment is given to the untouchables? Discuss with reference to the poem “One-Eyed.” Short Answer: What does the “one-eyed” symbolize in the poem?     1. Long Answer Q: What kind of treatment is given to the untouchables? Discuss with reference to “One-Eyed” by Meena Kandasamy. In Meena Kandasamy’s poem One-Eyed, the treatment of untouchables is shown as deeply cruel, inhumane, and unjust. Through a single incident  where a young girl named...
Post a Comment
Read more

MAHARAJA (2024)

  FILM STUDIES WORKSHEET: MAHARAJA (2024) Introduction: In contemporary Tamil cinema, Maharaja (2024), directed by Nithilan Saminathan, stands out as a masterclass in editing and non-linear storytelling. The film invites viewers into a layered narrative where time folds and unfolds, revealing truths in fragments. This blog explores how editing techniques shape the narrative structure and emotional resonance of Maharaja, based on a film studies worksheet designed by Dr. Dilipsir Barad.  (Click Here)  Analysing Editing & Non-Linear Narrative   PART A: BEFORE WATCHING THE FILM   What is non-linear narration in cinema? Non-linear narration is a storytelling method where events are presented out of chronological sequence. Instead of moving directly from beginning to end, the narrative jumps between past, present, and future. This technique can enhance suspense, deepen character exploration, and reveal information strategically.   Example: In Maharaja (2024),...
Post a Comment
Read more

Paper : 106 - The Twentieth Century Literature: 1900 to World War II

  Fragmentation and Modern Disillusionment in T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land: A Reflection of Post-War Society Assignment Details Paper :  106 - The Twentieth Century Literature: 1900 to World War II  (22399) Topic :  Fragmentation and Modern Disillusionment in T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land: A Reflection of Post-War Society Submitted to - Smt. S.B.Gardi Department of English M.K.B.U. Date of Submission:  Personal Information Name: Nikita Vala  Batch: M.A. Sem - 2 (2024-2026) Enrollment Number: 5108240089  Roll No: 17 Table of contents Assignment Details  Personal Information Abstract Key Words Introduction Thematic Analysis Philosophical Perspectives Comparative Analysis Conclusion References Fragmentation and Modern Disillusionment in T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land: A Reflection of Post-War Society Abstract T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land (1922) stands as one of the most significant modernist works, reflecting the fractured psyche of post-World War I society...
Post a Comment
Read more