“To plagiarize” comes from the Latin word “plagiare” which means, “to kidnap.” There are many ways to “kidnap” or steal ideas, both intentional and unintentional. As a member of an academic community that takes the sharing of ideas and information very seriously, it is important to avoid even the suspicion of plagiarism. To that end, it is your responsibility to learn how to cite your sources. It is also important to remember that understanding your materials is paramount to writing a good paper, and that plagiarizing reveals a lack of confidence in your own understanding. If you are ever tempted to kidnap someone else’s words or ideas – think again – and go to your professor for help.

View this brief video for a good introduction to avoiding plagiarism.

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opens new windowGuidance from the APA on Plagiarism

University Policy

Review the opens new windowpolicy on plagiarism and the opens new windowconsequences of plagiarism at Oral Roberts University.

There are different types and degrees of plagiarism. Read the opens new windowTerminology Overview page for definitions and examples of the most common types of plagiarism.