Are You Misusing Other People's Words?

October 1, 2014
Grades 3-5 Plagiarism and academic dishonesty are often sources of uncertainty for many students. In this volume of the Got Issues? series, Francis provides a very clear definition, complete with examples, of what exactly constitutes plagiarism and frankly describes it as a form of lying, cheating, and stealing. The seriousness of plagiarizing is driven home by real-world examples from students, politicians, and journalists. A brief history of copyright laws is outlined, and the philosophy of intellectual property is touched upon. Francis acknowledges the temptation to take the easier path, particularly in the digital age, and discusses how sloppy research methods can lead to plagiarism. The importance of doing your own thinking is emphasized, and almost a whole chapter is devoted to citing. The overall message is one that will resonate with any student who has ever been tempted to take an intellectual shortcut.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)