Plagiarism is a fear of many students, and that has reasons. Plagiarism is one of those words that makes students feel nervous, even when they have done everything right. Students often submit their assignments with unbeatable confidence, but deep in their minds, they think about their sentences that they should rephrase one more time.
But there is some amazing good news for those students. Well, the good news is that there are many ways to avoid plagiarism, but most students realize this at the right time. But there is no need to worry because we will look at some ways that students can follow to avoid that in their assignments and assessments.
First, Let’s Clear the Confusion
I know many students don’t fully understand the meaning of plagiarism, and that is completely normal. If you think that just copying and pasting whole paragraphs from the internet is plagiarism, then you will be shocked after listening to the reality. Well, when you borrow someone’s ideas without giving them credit, change some words, and call your work a rewritten version, then you should know that all of this comes under plagiarism.
You can’t even use your previous work without permission, so if I simplify this for you. Then this means if the ideas didn’t come to your mind, and you take them from somewhere else, then you need to acknowledge where they came from. Professors and university rules are too strict, so it is better that you take care of this thing called plagiarism.
Why Students Accidentally Plagiarize
In most cases, students don’t do it intentionally. Students fight with many things on a regular basis, and they just get tired and stressed by their routines. That is why they seek assessment help in Australia to meet their deadlines. And let’s be real here, juggling many subjects, jobs, and other duties is not easy at all.
Sometimes plagiarism happens because students don’t understand referencing rules properly. And other times they rely on online sources too much that they don’t remember to add the touch of their own voice. And maybe you will not believe me, but writing under pressure is the worst thing you can do to your grades.
Read First, Write Later
Do you know what is that one mistake that many students make while writing? Well, they read sources while writing their assignments. And this leads them to write sentences that look suspiciously similar to the original content.
But what students should avoid that? Okay, it is very easy, all you have to do is read your source carefully, close it, and then try to write what you understood in your own writing style. The trick is very simple, and if you can explain your idea like you are telling a friend, then you are doing it right. But avoid writing sentences as if they belong to a textbook. This will help you push plagiarism away.
Paraphrasing Is a Skill (Not a Shortcut)
If you believe that changing some words or rearranging sentences is paraphrasing, then you actually don’t understand the paraphrasing game. Many students do the same, and then they think why their assignments can’t pass the plagiarism detection.
Now, let’s discuss real paraphrasing. Well, the meaning is simple: you just need to understand the ideas and express them in a unique way. Like your words, structure, and flow should be different. Yes, it is sometimes difficult, but it also helps you improve your writing skills. And let’s be real, professors can see when something sounds too polished from the rest of your work. So that can be detrimental to your results.
Referencing: Annoying but Necessary
Well, referencing is one of those parts that students love to hate. But there is a reason behind their hate, and it is APA, Harvard, and MLA; they sometimes feel like they are learning a whole new language. But they cannot skip this part, and doing this is also risky.
So you should keep a track of your sources while researching, rather than trying to remember everything at the end. Trust me, you will thank yourself in the future for following this.
Always remember, right referencing doesn’t make your assignment look weak, but it actually shows your honesty. This lets your teacher know that you have done proper research and you understand how to use academic sources responsibly.
Use Plagiarism Checkers (Wisely)
You can use plagiarism detection tools to check your assignments and assessments, and trust me, that is so helpful. I know they are not a magical shield, and they will not fix poor paraphrasing or cite a source that you forget. But they will surely let you know the problem.
Students can check plagiarism with the help of free tools before submitting their work. But always remember that universities mostly use advanced tools. So if something feels risky to you, then you should fix that before submission.
When Actually Feel Stuck
Sometimes, many students feel they understand the topic but don’t know how to put their thoughts into the right words. And this is where a lot of students start thinking about seeking outside help. And that is justifiable, because sometimes this option is the only one that can save grades and time.
Numerous students search for reliable platforms that help them with their assignments. And those students can consider platforms like Assignmenthelpaustralia.au because these types of platforms actually support students, and reduce the risk of plagiarism.
To Sum It All
Students actually need to understand that their assignments should not sound like they are written by tools or academic robots. Professors expect readable, original, and human-written work from students. And they basically show how honest and capable the student is.
So, students, this is your choice to write in your own voice, but one thing is clear: this shows your understanding level. Don’t forget to cite a source. And when you follow all the mentioned steps, then you will thank yourself later for defeating plagiarism.
