Understanding Plagiarism and Its Consequences

Gr 7 Up—This Australian-made film features university students and staff explaining many aspects of plagiarism. Divided into seven chapters, it begins with a senior lecturer from the School of Culture and Communication providing his definition of plagiarism—a rather peculiar explanation that equates plagiarism with kidnapping or body snatching. The narrator provides a more commonly accepted definition and explains that plagiarism can include artistic media, characters, computer software, music, images, and published or unpublished documents as well as written work. Topics covered by the narrator and student interviews include the various types of plagiarism, how plagiarism can affect students, why people plagiarize, how teachers can detect plagiarism, and laws and penalties. Finally, a student sums up how plagiarism can be prevented by listing resources while conducting research, paraphrasing, learning how to cite sources, and more. A culminating section clarifies facts and myths related to plagiarism. Although American students may have a difficult time with several of the actors' accents, and some of the information is specific to Australia, the film does present a comprehensive overview of plagiarism and its consequences.—Lisa Hubler, Charles F. Brush High School, Lyndhurst, OH