Understanding plagiarism
Introduction
As a Charles Sturt University (CSU) student, you encounter other people's ideas in every subject throughout your studies. You use other people's ideas to help you develop your knowledge and form your own opinions. Consequently you need to be aware of, and clear about, the rules to be followed when using the ideas of others.
Every CSU student has the responsibility to give credit where credit is due. Whenever you draw on the ideas, concepts or theories of others or use another person's words from print or electronic sources, you must acknowledge that you have 'borrowed' those ideas or words.
In university studies, to fail to provide due acknowledgment is considered theft – intellectual theft - whether resulting from ignorance or unethical choices. To not provide due acknowledgment is called plagiarism. Always remember that plagiarism is never considered acceptable scholarly behaviour.