Title: What is Plagiarism and How to Avoid Infringing It

(from our Writing Course)

Author: Craig Lock

Line Space: 65 characters

Category (key words): Writing, Online Writing, Writing Tips.

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Category (key words): Writing, Creative Writing, Writing Course

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is an early lesson from our online writing course) may

be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers, or on your

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"We share what we know, so that others may grow."

*

What is Plagiarism and How to Avoid Infringing It

(from Craig Lock's Writing Course)



How to Avoid "Stepping over the Line"* (ie. infringing it)?

..so you won't upset other writers.



* that's a metaphor, btw.



PLAGIARISM: Wow - what

a big word, like "marmalade" or "earth-moving-contractor". Hope I

spelt it correctly! PLAGIARISM is deliberately copying someone

else's work and putting your name to it. A couple of years ago,

there was a celebrated case in my former homeland, South Africa.

A university lecturer had copied extracts from American author,

Joseph Leyleveld's excellent book, MOVE YOUR SHADOW. ( An

excellent book, by the way!). A big extract was taken word for

word and he was discovered (and was forced to resign his

prestigious position). Naughty naughty!



I've just read a report of how a fine piece of descriptive writing by an

academic at one of the best Universities in South Africa appeared almost

verbatim in a novel by a prominent South African author. The passages in

question were nearly identical in both works. Another well-known South

African journalist also recently "faithfully" reproduced the work of another

writer by uplifting lage tracts of another's creativity. Seems to be a lot

of plagiarism occuring in "the beloved country" South Africa!



There has also been a bit

of a furore (nice word!) with celebrated American historian

Stephen Ambrose using another writer's work - word for word.

Rather humiliating and embarrassing for him getting "caught out"

(can I end a sentence with a "preppie"?). Plagiarism seems to be

quite prevalent amongst songwriters, like George Michael, but bet

there are many writers too. "Prima donnas"! A final few words in

summary on the subject of plagiarism... When deciding whether you

are perhaps infringing copyright and/or plagiarism, ask yourself

these important questions:



1. "If I was the author, how would I feel about

someone 'copying my hard-worked for writing' ?" Sometimes

lifting it outright 'word-for-word' with "zilch" acknowledgement..



2. "Has the writer made a genuine effort to put

the material into his/her own words?"

and



3. "Has he/she just

copied or borrowed my ideas and other points from my writing?"



4. Do you feel someone has deliberately set out to "steal" another authors

work,

"purporting" (is there such a word?) to be their original piece of

creativity?



*



I think "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"! Still don't

plagiarise my work, please! DEFAMATION: DEFAMATION (not a bodily

function - OOPS, ER ! )... but if you do, you will soon be really

deep in the "rich brown stuff". Always keep a good name. Avoid

libel suits (must replace mine someday the lot/financial fortunes

of the writer!). Never defame anyone in your writing, especially

after they've "fallen off their perch" (ie. after they are

deceased - thanks Monty Python). As writers we are very

privileged people, who can directly influence public opinion.

Most other people don't have the opportunity to defend themselves

through the avenue of publicly written words. So it's a heavy

responsibility we writers have to convey the truth (is that

subjective or absolute? - that's an entire essay in itself). Well our

opinion of it, anyway!

If you haven't a kind word to say

against someone, don't say it at all. "Mr Goody Goody two-shoes"

(but in my crazy travel book about my European adventures

HERE,THERE and EVERYWHERE, you'll find out why I only had one!).

Hard sometimes, when you are reporting the facts, as you saw them

and want to market your work sometimes; because controversy

always sells...like bad news headlines sell newspapers. Most of

the above information is based on pure common-sense (what's

that?) and using your discernment. However, many writers don't

have an abundance of the aforementioned qualities in making judgements.



"Writers should also be business-people and try to think like them;

but then any business-person would have the good sense not to

become a writer."

- me (but originally thought borrowed from an unknown author).



A word (or two or three) of advice regarding plagiarism... In writing follow

the following (sounds "funny" that!) creeds: When in doubt

about what course to take (not English III), just ask yourself

this: If you were the author, would you like someone else copying

your work, or saying 'those things' about you. Use judicious

judgement (note alliteration) and when in doubt, rather err on

the side of caution. Even if you have been badly hurt by someone

in the past, don't be tempted to retaliate and take vengeance for

"the sordid past" through your words. Everyone has made mistakes

they may regret in life, so think the best of people. At least

try! Enough moralising and back to my original topic.



We are all human (although many writers are "abnormally human") and we all

do make many mistakes down the "river of life" (or should I have said "as we

negotiate the rapids of life"? - that's a metaphor, btw). Stop rambling

"rose" and get back to what you were writing about, Craig. Yes,

plagiarism....



If you do happen to inadvertantly (big word, eh - so should I rather have

said "unintentionally"?) palagiarise another author's work, admit your error

and apologise to them. (That happened to me once with a well-known

author....

and I was the culprit early on in my writing "career"). Opps, er sorry!



A final few words to conclude on the subjects of plagiarism and defamation.

One Law of Professional Plagiarism, which may be of importance among

accomplished plagiarists states that: "If it's worth stealing, it's worth

stealing accurately. So on no account simply tinker with another writer's

words. Always acknowledge the lifting verbatim all writing of others (not

only the 400 words + normally accepted as the limit, which may be freely

reproduced without seeking authorisation).



(Author's Note: These points were based on a report in the South African

Weekly Mail and Guardian online newspaper - 4th Feb 2005, then re-written by

me)



I believe INTENT is the key here (as with the law). Did an author

deliberately set out to copy some other writer's work, intending to pass it

off as their own creation? For whatever reason: whether ego, self

satisfaction, self-agrandisement* etc.



Now that's a big impressive word and it's the first time I've used it,

so hope I spelt it correctly (in either British or American English)!

After that little "ramble" and to end off this piece, my advice is

simply....



Don't try to camouflage your pilfering by means of tiny alterations,

cunningly inserted here and there. Use quotation marks and give due

accreditation of your source. Be ethical at all times. Always write with

ABSOLUTE HONESTY (from your particular

perspective), in utmost GOOD FAITH and INTEGRITY...and as the

proverb wisely advises: "Do unto others, as you would have them

do unto you." Then you can't go wrong in your writing.



Happy writing down the creative path of self discovery



Craig Lock

http://www.craiglock.com



P.S: "Plagiarism occurs, when

someone else steals your work. When many people do, it's called research!"



"If you have integrity, nothing else matters.

If you dont have integrity, nothing else matters."

- Alan K. Simpson



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