Plagiarism Issues Essays

Plagiarism Issues Essays Plagiarism Issues Essay Plagiarism Issues Essay Knowing that someone committed plagiarism for the first time or for a several times already is a bit hard because one gets between doing the right thing and keeping it a secret. However, despite this difficulty, one should be motivated enough to stick to what is right. If I were Ariana, I would consider my options. I can pretend to ignore what Kunta did but then I have to live with my conscience for overlooking that mistake. If I pretend to ignore it, my grades in school will also be jeopardized, or worse, I might be expelled. Though it is hard, it is just right that I report to my instructor what Kunta did. I am sure he knew that plagiarism is unethical and illegal, and he knew the consequences of committing it. The possibility that anyone can notice his act of plagiarism is at hand. Thus, he should expect that anytime soon he will be reprimanded for it. It is also difficult that the other members in the team tolerated Kunta’s actions. What is worse is that they knew this was going on for sometime, yet they did not do something just because they were good friends with Kunta. They deliberately committed willful ignorance and consent. With no one to support me, I am faced with the sole responsibility of reporting the case to my instructor. As my grades and my status in the university are at stake, I would not want to work with Kunta, especially if he resisted being reprimanded. Persons who do things that are unethical and/or illegal may harm others. Kunta is not a good model as a student, and this can taint his other group mates as well. Whether someone gets caught of committing plagiarism is one of the issues that do not seem to be settled. There were questions that do not have easy answers, such as whether if unintentional copying of someone’s work without proper acknowledgment still plagiarism (Green). On this case, I think the answer is yes, even for the case of Kunta. As defined, plagiarism is copying someone’s works or ideas without properly attributing those ideas to the original author (Tutorial† Plagiarism: What it is and How to Recognize and Avoid it†). Kunta did commit plagiarism, regardless if he was never caught before. With these views in mind, I adhere to the belief that honesty is the best policy. Plagiarism is unethical and illegal, and it robs the author of the benefits entitled to him. I always avoid committing plagiarism. Subjecting myself to such unethical acts is an utter conflict with my beliefs.