English Class Guidelines

Plagiarism

The word plagiarism comes from the Latin word plagiarize and is defined as "the false assumption of authorship; the wrongful act of taking the product of another person's mind, and presenting it as one's own." To plagiarize is to give the impression that you have written something that you have, in fact, borrowed from someone else. The most blatant form of plagiarism is to repeat someone else's sentences, word for word. Plagiarism is usually unintentional, but be very careful that you do not plagiarize.

Common Mistakes

1. Not following directions explicitly
2. Waiting until the last minute
3. Forgetting to make two copies of the final draft
4. Not taking enough notes to write a paper that meets the length requirements
5. Forgetting to write down your sources on the Works Cited worksheet