However, since each student is responsible for knowing what constitutes plagiarism, unintentional plagiarism is as unacceptable as intentional plagiarism and commission of it will bring the same penalties. In many classes, faculty members will provide their own definitions of plagiarism. In classes where a definition is not provided, students are invited to follow the standards articulated in the following statement written by a professor at Widener University. Every part of the written work you hand in should be your own, unless credit is given by way of a specific footnote. Note that the important idea here is taking someone else's ideas.
Plagiarism is literary theft.
When you copy the words of another, be sure to put those words inside quotation marks and to acknowledge the source with a footnote. When you paraphrase the words of another, use your own words and your own sentence structure, and be sure to give a footnote citing the source of the idea. This is healthy activity, and the practice is encouraged. The interpretation of the piece of literature, the wording of the analysis, and the organization of arguments should be solely the student's own. The minimum penalty for individuals convicted of academic fraud will be failure in the course.